Type of Credit: Required
Credit(s)
Number of Students
This course is designed for students at postgraduate level. It helps students to establish a basic understanding about qualitative research and qualitative research methods. By completing the course, students are expected to have the ability to conduct independent research. Besides, significant issues discussed by the participants include: ontology and epistemology, positivist and post-positivist approaches to international studies, the formulation of research questions, data (texts) collection, and strategies for writing a critical literature review.
能力項目說明
The course aims to give students a grounding in the basic principles of qualitative research methodology. It provides students with an introduction to the major methods of qualitative data collection and analysis, how qualitative data are actively constructed and interpreted by a researcher and an appreciation of the practical and epistemological concerns raised by qualitative data collection.
On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
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週次 |
課程主題 |
課程內容與指定閱讀 |
教學活動與作業 |
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1 |
Introduction: Qualitative Research Methods |
Lamont, C. (2015). Research Methods in International Relations. In C. Lamont (pp.13-29). Research Methods in International Relations. London: SAGE. Flick, U. (2009). Qualitative Research: Why and How to Do It; Qualitative and Quantitative Research. An Introduction to Qualitative Research. London: SAGE, pp. 11-34. |
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2 |
Research Questions and Research Designs |
Marsh, D. & Furlong, P. (2002). A Skin, Not a Sweater: Ontology and Epistemology in Political Sciences. In D. Marsh & G. Stoker (Eds.) Theories and Methods in Political Sciences (pp. 17-44). London: Palgrave Macmillan. Leander, A. (2008). Thinking Tool. In A. Klotz & D. Prakash (pp. 11-27). Qualitative Methods in International Relations: A Pluralist Guide. London: Palgrave Macmillan. |
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3 |
Literature Review |
Lamont, C. (2015). Writing a Literature Review. In C. Lamont (pp.64-76). Research Methods in International Relations. London: SAGE. Byman, D. (2016). Understanding the Islamic State—A Review Essay. International Security, 40(4): 127-65. |
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4 |
Data Collection and Research Techniques (I) |
Web of Science, SSCI Journals, EndNote |
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5 |
Data Collection and Research Techniques (II) |
Primary Resource & Secondary Resource |
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6 |
Theories, Puzzles and Hypotheses (I) |
Kurki, M. & Wight, C. (2010). International Relations and Social Science. In T. Dunn, M. Kurki, & S. Smith (Eds.) International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity (pp. 14-35). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Walt, S. (1998). International Relations: One World, Many Theories. Foreign Policy, April 1: 29-46. |
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7 |
Theories, Puzzles and Hypotheses (II) |
Rapid, Y. (1989). The Third Debate: On the Perspectives of International Theory in a Post-Positivist Era. International Studies Quarterly, 33(3): 235-54. Mearsheimer, J., & Walt, S. (2013). Leaving Theory Behind: Why Simplistic Hypothesis Testing is Bad for International Relations. European Journal of International Relations, 19(3): 472-57. |
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8 |
Mid-term Exam |
Essay Writing |
Mid-term Essay—Literature Review (3,000 words) |
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9 |
Research Ethics and Ethical Consideration |
Film Watching and Discussion |
Film—Secrets of the Tribes |
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10 |
Case Studies and Comparative Studies (I) |
Klotz, A. Case Selection. In A. Klotz & D. Prakash (Eds.) (pp. 43-60). Qualitative Methods in International Relations: A Pluralist Guide. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Allison, G. (1969). Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The American Political Science Review, 63(3): 689-718. |
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11 |
Case Studies and Comparative Studies (II) |
Film Watching and Discussion |
Film—Thirteen Days |
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12 |
Directive Observation, and Interviewing |
Littig, B. (2009). Interviewing the Elite—Interviewing Experts: Is There a Difference? In A. Bogner, B. Littig, & W. Menz (Eds.) (pp. 98-116). Interviewing Experts. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Mesquita, B. (2002). Domestic Politics and International Relations. International Studies Quarterly (2002) 46: 1-9. |
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13 |
Archival Research |
Thies, C. (2002). A Pragmatic Guide to Qualitative Historical Analysis in the Study of International Relations. International Studies Perspectives (2002) 3: 351-72. |
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14 |
Text Analysis and Discourse Analysis |
Milliken, J. (1999). The Study of Discourse in International Relations: A Critique of Research and Methods. European Journal of International Relations, 5(2): 225-54. Neumann, I. Discourse Analysis. In A. Klotz & D. Prakash (Eds.) (pp. 61-77). Qualitative Methods in International Relations: A Pluralist Guide. London: Palgrave Macmillan. |
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15 |
Thesis Writing: Writing Up Your Research |
Becker, H. (2007). Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Murray, R. (2011). How to Write a Thesis. London: McGraw Hill. |
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16 |
Final Essay |
Essay Writing |
Research Proposal (5,000 words) |
Class Participation and Presentation: 30%
Mid-term Essay (3,000 words): 30%
Final Essay (5,000 words): 40%
Students are required to submit their mid-term and final essays in Week 8 and Week 16, respectively. All written work must be submitted in BOTH electronic and hard copy formats.
Late submissions will be penalized at 5% per day. No extensions will be given. If you are unable to submit your work on time, you must submit it as soon as you can with written evidence for the reason for lateness.
Alford, R. (1998). The Craft of Inquiry: Theories, Methods, and Evidence. New York: Oxford University Press.
Becker, H. (2007). Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Dunleavy, P. (2003). Authoring a PHD: How to Plan, Draft, Write & Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Flick, U. (2008). An Introduction to Qualitative Research. London, UK: SAGE.
King, G., Keohane, R. & Verba, S. (1994). Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Lamont, C. (2015). Research Methods in International Relations. London, UK: SAGE.
Marsh, D. & Stoker, G. (2010). Theory and Methods in Political Science. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Mason, J. (2002). Qualitative Researching. London, UK: SAGE.
Ven Evera, S. (1998). Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
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