Course syllabus Designing and Doing Research, Political Science
Swedish name: Forskningsdesign och analysmetoder, statsvetenskap
Course code:
2SS080
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:
Political Science: Security Studies
Department:
Department of Political Science and Law
Subject:
Political Science
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott
Decision date:
2022-06-21
Entry requirements
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. The 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 the student ca produce knowledge and appropriately construct research designs. The second part aims at creating the conditions needed for the student to obtain the necessary skills to analyze and apply various neopositivist and interpretivist methods.
Type of Instruction
Seminars
Lectures
Type of Instruction
Seminars
Lectures
Objectives
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Knowledge and understanding
- compare and contrast different research methods,
Competence and skills
- apply relevant social science concepts related to various research traditions,
- develop an appropriate research design based on a given research problem,
Judgement and approach
- independently assess the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs,
- critically evaluate methodological choices in published research.
Examination formats
Examination
Scope: 15.0
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
Assessment takes place 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 Pass with Distinction for all 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 specified in the course description.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Scope: 15.0
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
Assessment takes place 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 Pass with Distinction for all 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 specified in the course description.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer given or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
The course cannot be part of a degree whose content matches the content of this course in whole or in part.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
On the completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.
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.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
On the completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.
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.