Fall 2022 - POL 800 G100
Research Design in Political Science (5)
Class Number: 5873
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Wed, 4:00–7:50 p.m.
Vancouver
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Instructor:
Eline de Rooij
ead2@sfu.ca
1 778 782-5858
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an introduction to designing research in political science. It aims to provide graduate students with the basic knowledge of how to set up their own research project, with an overview of the different ways in which they might do so and with the tools to critically assess existing research.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course provides an introduction to designing research in political science. It aims to provide graduate students with the basic knowledge of how to set up their own research project, with an overview of the different ways in which they might do so, and with the tools to critically assess existing research. We will discuss the practicalities of research design by addressing such questions as: How do you choose a research topic and formulate a good research question? How do you write a literature review and what exactly are ‘theories’ and ‘hypotheses’? What do we mean by ‘evidence’ and how do we use it to build and test theories in political science? We further discuss the importance of conceptualization and measurement, and how to select your cases and observations. A strong emphasis will be placed on evaluating other academics’ research. The next part of the course provides a brief overview of the different ways in which political scientists collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and materials. The course closes with a discussion of how to write up your own research.
There will be one four-hour seminar each week.
Grading
- Participation 13%
- Short quizzes (4) 12%
- Short papers (3) 35%
- Group Presentation 15%
- Final Paper 25%
NOTES:
Students are required to submit their papers to Turnitin.com in order to get credit for the assignment.
The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism. For details, see http://www.sfu.ca/politics/undergraduate/program/related_links.html (Plagiarism & Intellectual Dishonesty)
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
McNabb, D.E. (2020). Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.). Routledge. Ebook available through the SFU Library. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/10.4324/9781003103141.
Additional articles and book chapters will be available on Canvas or through the SFU library
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/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