Mastering Academic Research Skills and Methods
Volledige vakbeschrijving
Mastering Academic Research Skills and Methods spans from September to January (period 1 - 3), and provides advanced training on various professional and research skills related to academic communication, research design skills (formulation of research questions, basic design of an academic study, choice of qualitative or quantitative methods), as well as working with (academic) sources. The course is designed to train students in the most important skills required to accomplish research projects in European Public Affairs, as well as to prepare them for the drafting of the MA EPA final work (thesis or research report). The main deliverable in the course, which is assessed by the MA supervisor, is a thesis research proposal due at the end of January.
Assessment method: Extended thesis proposal
Doelstellingen van dit vak
The main goal of the course is to equip the students with practical research design and research methodology skills indespensible for the contemporary professional in the domain of European Public Affairs.
After completion of this course, students are able to:
- identify and formulate clear research questions that help to direct the research process
- develop an analytical framework to examine the chosen research questions
- find, assess and critically analyse primary and secondary data
- plan and finalize a research proposal
- engage with and incorporate constructive peer feedback
Aanbevolen literatuur
- Blaikie, N. (2007). Approaches to Social Enquiry: Advancing Knowledge. 2nd ed., Cambridge: Polity.
- Grix, J. (2019). The Foundations of Research. (3rd ed.) London: Red Globe Press
- Moses, J. and Knutsen, T. (2007). Ways of Knowing: Competing Methodologies in Social and Political Research. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Toshkov, D. (2016). Research Design in Political Science, Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.