Type of Credit: Required
Credit(s)
Number of Students
This course teaches students how to complete a research design and basic research methods, including both qualitative and quantitative methods. We will discuss the process of writing a research proposal and cover issues such as framing your research question, collecting data, and analyzing and interpreting data. In addition to introducing widely-used qualitative and quantitative methods in social sciences and international studies, this course will focus on how to practically answer your research questions using different qualitative or quantitative methods.
This course is divided into two parts. Before the mid-term exam, our focus is on quantitative methodology, and every week we will have a one-hour R section in which you will use statistical software R to finish some tasks and analyze data. After the mid-term exam, we will focus on qualitative methodology and cover a number of methods. From Week 2 onwards, you will be given homework to work on every other week, and are expected to submit your answers to the Moodle by the next class (i.e., 9:10am on Friday). Late submissions will not be accepted. There will be a total of five homework throughout the semester. At the end of the semester, you also need to complete a research proposal no longer than 4,000 words and present it in class. The paper is due on December 22nd, 5pm, to the Moodle.
能力項目說明
Upon completing this course, students are expected to (1) understand how to complete a research design and collect data, (2) be familiar with basic qualitative and quantitative methods, (3) acquire the essential ability to analyze data, and (4) finish a research proposal and apply an appropriate method to answer your research question.
| 教學週次Course Week | 彈性補充教學週次Flexible Supplemental Instruction Week | 彈性補充教學類別Flexible Supplemental Instruction Type |
|---|---|---|
|
週次 Week |
日期 Date |
課程主題 Topic |
指定閱讀 Required Readings |
作業 Homework |
|
1 |
9/13 |
Course introduction |
No readings |
|
|
2 |
9/20 |
Building theories and research design |
Chapters 1, 2, 6 |
HW1 |
|
3 |
9/27 |
Sampling, operationalizations, and measurement |
Chapters 5, 7, 8, 9 |
|
|
4 |
10/4 |
Descriptive statistics |
Chapters 14, 15 |
HW2 |
|
5 |
10/11 |
Relationships between two variables |
Chapter 16 |
|
|
6 |
10/18 |
Regression analysis I |
Chapter 17 |
HW3 |
|
7 |
10/25 |
Regression analysis II + Midterm review |
Chapter 17 |
|
|
8 |
11/1 |
Midterm exam |
|
|
|
9 |
11/8 |
Literature review |
Chapter 3 |
|
|
10 |
11/15 |
Case studies and comparative studies |
Chapter 12 |
HW4 |
|
11 |
11/22 |
Direct observation |
Chapter 18 |
(topic confirmed) |
|
12 |
11/29 |
Focus group and elite interviewing |
Chapters 19, 20 |
HW5 |
|
13 |
12/6 |
Guest lecture |
|
|
|
14 |
12/13 |
Student presentation |
|
|
|
15 |
12/20 |
Student presentation |
|
Paper due |
|
16 |
12/27 |
Course wrap up |
|
|
|
17 |
1/3 |
Flexible teaching week |
|
|
|
18 |
1/10 |
Flexible teaching week |
|
|
Attendance and participation: 10%; Homework: 20%; Midterm exam: 30%; Final research proposal: 40%
Required:
Supplementary:
Monogan, James E. 2015. Political Analysis Using R. Springer.