Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2013 - 2014

Module Title	Research Design
Module Code	LG600
School	School of Law & Government
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Prof Iain McMenamin	Office Number	CG19B
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

This course is designed to train you in the skills of doing political research. Our focus is on the process of designing political inquiry. This training is absolutely essential to undertaking doctoral research in any branch of the social sciences. The understanding, skills and techniques that you learn during this module should be used to guide all of your subsequent research endeavours.

Learning Outcomes

1. You should finish the semester with a detailed understanding of research design in political science and international relations.
2. You should be able to critically assess research undertaken by scholars in your field.
3. You will develop further the skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses in, and opportunities and challenges that arise from, existing research.
4. You will complete the semester with a ‘doctoral prospectus.’

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	10	Please see content
Seminars	14	Please see content
Independent Study	226	Please see content
Total Workload: 250

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

Methodological critiques
Students will be asked to prepare and present critiques of research articles using the perspectives introduced earlier in the course.

Research Proposal Presentations
Each student will be asked to prepare and defend their research topic as set of conscious methodological choices.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

William Trochim and James P. Donnelly.: 2007, The Research Methods Knowledge Base,
Gary King, Robert Keohane, Sidney Verba: 0, Designing Social Inquiry,
Todd Landman: 0, Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics,
Jonathon Moses and Torbjorn Knutsen: 0, Ways of Knowing: Competing Methodologies in Social and Political Research,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

ALPD	PhD
ALPM	MA
ALPT	PhD-track
ARAPM	Master of Arts
ARPD	PhD
ARPM	MSc
ARPT	PhD-track
CSPD	PhD
CSPM	Master of Arts
CSPT	PhD-track
ESPD	PhD
ESPM	MA
ESPT	PhD-track
HDPD	PhD
LGLM	LLM
LGPD	PhD
LGPM	MA
LGPT	PhD-track

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