Module: Research Design for the Social Sciences

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Research Design for the Social Sciences
Module Code	LG609 (ITS) / POL1087 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
Module Co-ordinator	Iain McMenamin
Module Teachers	Eoin O'Malley
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

This module provides an overview of basic issues of research design for students engaging in empirical research in the social sciences broadly understood, including Business and Law. This includes thinking about research questions and strategies for empirical investigation with a view to increasing the validity of the findings. The material is consistent with a post-positivist epistemology.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the basic rules of research design for PhD theses and how to apply them
2. Analyse and critically assess the research design of other scholars
3. Understand the principles undergirding the preparation of a research prospectus for a PhD thesis
4. Demonstrate discipline specific communication skills in the public presentation of a PhD prospectus

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	11	Lectures to the class on research design
Seminars	11	Class presentations, feedback on presentations
Independent Study	103	Preparation of class presentations, written assignments, and further study
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Ontology and epistemology
What is in the world? What can we know about the world

Description and explanation
How does the world appear? How do we go about explaining how the world appears?

Validity and reliability
Introduces the concepts of validity and reliability. Presents common types of fallacious reasoning

Variables
Introduces variables - explanatory, dependent, control, mediator variables

Conditional vs. probabilistic reasoning
Presents two different types of inquiry

Case-specific vs. inferential reasoning
Universe of cases, sample of cases, representativeness.

Causation
Correlation (association) vs causation.Three basic rules necessary for identifying causation.

Comparative research design
Rules for case selection

Cross-section and time-series cross-sectional research design
Introduces different types of comparative research design strategies

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Students are required to critically assess the research design of an academic article published within the last 5 years in a leading journal (i.e. from an ISI journal with a high citation count). The article should be related to the student's PhD topic. The choice of article needs to be agreed with the module director prior to the submission of the assessment.	50%	Week 7
Assignment	Students are required to produce a draft research prospectus. In the prospectus, the student should state the research question, specify the value-added of the thesis, and set out the basic research design that it is proposed to adopt in the work.	50%	Week 12
Presentation	Each student will present a 30-second 'elevator pitch' of their thesis topic to the class early on in the module	0%	n/a
Presentation	Each student is expected to make a 10-minute presentation on their PhD proposal to the class. This will be followed by 15 minutes of questions.	0%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

della Porta, D., & Keating, M. eds.: 2008, Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: A Pluralist Perspective, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Maggetti, M., Radaelli, C., & Gilardi, F.: 2013, Designing Research in the Social Sciences, Sage, London,
King, G., Keohane, R., & Verba, S.: 1994, Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton University Press,
Gerring, J.: 0, Case Study Research: Principles and Practices, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,

Other Resources

None

This module will replace the current module, LG600 Research Design. The existing module is credited as a year-long, 10-credit module. The new module is a one-semester, 5-credit module.