| Module Title |
Research Design for the Social Sciences |
| Module Code |
POL1087 (ITS: LG609) |
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Faculty |
Law & Government |
School |
Humanities & Social Sciences |
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NFQ level |
9 |
Credit Rating |
5 |
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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.
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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
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| Workload | Full time hours per semester | | Type | Hours | Description |
|---|
| 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 |
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| Section Breakdown | | CRN | 11428 | Part of Term | Semester 1 | | Coursework | 0% | Examination Weight | 0% | | Grade Scale | 40PASS | Pass Both Elements | Y | | Resit Category | RC1 | Best Mark | N | | Module Co-ordinator | Kenneth McDonagh | Module Teacher | Eoin O'Malley, Iain McMenamin |
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| Assessment Breakdown |
| Type | Description | % of total | Assessment Date |
|---|
| 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
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Pre-requisite |
None
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Co-requisite |
None |
| Compatibles |
None |
| Incompatibles |
None |
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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
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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
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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 |
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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. |
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