Course syllabus Research Design and Methods, War Studies
Swedish name: Forskningsdesign och analysmetoder, krigsvetenskap
Course code:
2KR030
Valid from semester:
Autumn Term 2023
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
15.0 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
Three-grade scale
Main field of study:
War Studies
Department:
Department of War Studies and Military History
Subject:
War Studies
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings- och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott (KUS)
Decision date:
2022-08-23
Entry requirements
Officer's degree or bachelor's degree of 180 credits, of which 90 credits are in War Studies or an equivalent subject. English skills equivalent to English B or English 6.
Course content and structure
Designing coherent and consistent research is essential for studying political and social phenomena. Good research plays a fundamental role in understanding and explaining war and peace, as well as crisis management, security and defence policies. This course offers the student a broad overview of existing approaches, methods and research tools in war studies and political science. In addition to learning specific analytical methods, the course aims to provide students with the necessary skills to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to research, including ethical considerations when conducting research. The course is divided into two parts. The first part is dedicated to various ways in which knowledge can be produced and how to approriately construct research designs. In the second part, the student develops the necessary skills to analyze and apply various neopositivist and interpretivist methods.
Type of Instruction
Type of Instruction
- Lectures
- Seminars
Objectives
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
Skills and abilities
Judgment and approach
Skills and abilities
- apply relevant social science concepts related to various research traditions,
Judgment and approach
- compare and contrast different research methods,
- independently assess the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs,
- critically evaluate methodological choices in published research,
- develop an appropriate research design to address a given research problem.
Examination formats
Assessment is done individually through the submission of individual written assignments and active participation in mandatory seminars.
The examiner may decide to allow supplementation in order to achieve a passing grade.
The examiner may decide that absence from mandatory seminars may be compensated by submitting a written supplementary assignment.
Grading
To earn the grade Pass with Distinction in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a
grade of Pass with Distinction for all the written assignments, with no assignment receiving a grade below Pass.
To earn the grade Pass in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a grade of Pass or
better for all written assignments.
Grading criteria are presented no later than at the start of the course.
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
The examiner may decide to allow supplementation in order to achieve a passing grade.
The examiner may decide that absence from mandatory seminars may be compensated by submitting a written supplementary assignment.
Grading
To earn the grade Pass with Distinction in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a
grade of Pass with Distinction for all the written assignments, with no assignment receiving a grade below Pass.
To earn the grade Pass in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a grade of Pass or
better for all written assignments.
Grading criteria are presented no later than at the start of the course.
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When a course is no longer provided or when the content of a course has been significantly altered, the student has the right to be examined in accordance with this course syllabus twice per academic year over a period of two years.
Other regulations
The course cannot be part of a degree with course whose content matches the content of this course in whole or in part.
On completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director and serve as the basis for any changes to the course.
If the Swedish Defence Univerity has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.
On completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director and serve as the basis for any changes to the course.
If the Swedish Defence Univerity has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.