Fall 2018 - IS 300 D100
Research Methods in International Studies (4)
Class Number: 8092
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Tue, 8:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Vancouver
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Instructor:
Jeffrey Checkel
jtc11@sfu.ca
1 778 782-8692
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Prerequisites:
IS 101 and 45 units.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Introduces the research enterprise in International Studies.
COURSE DETAILS:
This is a course about how to evaluate and conduct good research - and doing good research means knowing about methods. It will both introduce you to key concepts and terms – say, case studies or correlation – and show how they work in practice. All class sessions will be divided in two – a conceptual introduction and overview that is then followed by examples drawn from key topics and sub-fields within international studies. The goal is not for you to become methodologists, but to be smart consumers and users of methods in your own studies and reading.
The course has two parts. We begin – Part I - with foundational issues. At a basic level, methods can flow from very different philosophical starting points, with regression analysis and discourse approaches – for example - being quite distinct techniques for gathering and evaluating data. In this first part, we also consider causation, theory, ethics and research design in a similar way, tracing how differing philosophical assumptions shape their understanding and use – and relation to method.
The bulk of the course – Part II – is then an introduction to a number of qualitative and quantitative methods useful for students of international studies. Each class introduces a particular technique, provides a critical net assessment (what are its strengths and weaknesses), and shows how the method works in practice. The latter is accomplished by drawing upon empirical research in contemporary international studies.
The course will introduce students to key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as tools for helping understand the world around us. Students will finish with: a basic understanding of the relation between differing philosophical starting points and cause, theory, research ethics, research design and method; an understanding of key research tools for students of international studies, at both the conceptual and applied/practical levels; and an ability to evaluate the methodologies used and arguments made by scholars and analysts.
View the full course syllabus here: http://www.sfu.ca/content/dam/sfu/internationalstudies/checkel/IS300-Fall2018.pdf
Grading
- In-Class Midterm Exam 25%
- Critical Review – Of the various philosophical, theoretical, ethical, design issues and methods covered in Parts I & II, students choose one for in-depth exploration. The critical review will be 10 pages long. 25%
- Participation 15%
- Take-Home Final Exam – This is an essay exam that covers the entire course; it will be 12-15 pages in length. 35%
NOTES:
Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.
The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
The following books are required.
• Bryman, Alan and Edward Bell. 2016. Social Research Methods, 4th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Van Evera, Stephen. 1997. Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
All other required reading will be available via SFU’s Custom Courseware or on reserve at the library.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS