Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2014 - 2015

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	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

This module provides an overview of basic research skills for students engaging in empirical research in the area of politics broadly understood. This includes thinking about research questions, the purpose of the literature review, theory building, and strategies for empirical investigation.

Learning Outcomes

1. You should finish the semester with a firm grasp of research design in politics, public policy, 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 be able to present and defend an empirical research design in politics, public policy, or international relations.
5. You will be able to critically analyze any claim that research points public policy in a particular direction.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	12	Please see content
Seminars	12	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

Staff-led seminars
Research Design in Empirical Social Research, Broad Methodological Traditions in Political Research, Quantitative Research, The Statistics-Inspired Approach to Qualitative Research, The Independent Qualitative Tradition, Is There a Constructivist Methodology or Methodologies?

Student-led Seminars
Critiques of Research Articles, Student Research Designs

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,
W Phillips Shively: 0, The Craft of Political Research,
Henry Brady and David Collier: 0, Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards,

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
LGLM	LLM
LGPD	PhD
LGPM	MA
LGPT	PhD-track

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