Module: Research Design for the Social Sciences

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Research Design for the Social Sciences
Module Code	POL1087 (ITS: LG609)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

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. 1E14732F-D3DD-0001-E9D0-1F721B0011B2
2. Understand the basic rules of research design for PhD theses and how to apply them
4. 6,7,8
5. 0
6. 1E14732F-DD7C-0001-6241-B4EC94301A35
7. Analyse and critically assess the research design of other scholars
9. 8,9
10. 0
11. 1E14732F-EB56-0001-E897-B3E6CCC380D0
12. Understand the principles undergirding the preparation of a research prospectus for a PhD thesis
14. 8,9
15. 0
16. 1E14732F-FA70-0001-9EC1-10A011801E99
17. Demonstrate discipline specific communication skills in the public presentation of a PhD prospectus
19. 8,10
20. 0

*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

Section Breakdown
CRN	11428	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Kenneth McDonagh	Module Teacher	Eoin O'Malley, Iain McMenamin

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment 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; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Indicative Reading List

Books:

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,

Articles:
None

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.