Session 1
Political science students need to be introduced to the approaches and methods of research :
Part 1 Knowing the different perspectives and approaches
Using the proper method for data collection and how to analyze it by ourselves
Be aware of the ethical aspect of doing research and get familiarized with them
Part 2 Initiation to experimental research
Descriptive and basic of inferential statistics (Excel)
Choosing a method depending on the aims of the research and the characteristics of the object
under study, it has to be selected wisely, there is not a good or bad method, only a better fit to conduct
quality research.
I – What are research methods ?
‘Rules of the game’ : codified insights on how to make credible claims in a scientific debate.
The construction of credibility is produced differently in different forums on the basis of specific sets
of standards - Realm of scientific debate (bound by the rules of sciences in order to establish oneself
as a credible and trustworthy researcher)
- Realm of public/political debate (can be based on a different way of reasoning, for
example : Trump’s administration and its “alternative facts”)
Natural scientists :
Study natural phenomena
Focus on the identification of general laws
On the basis of empirical evidence from observation and experimentation
Social scientists :
Study relations among individuals and societies
Test and construct theories to explain societal dynamics
Methodological pluralists using an array of methods
Critical of the phenomena studied and of their own position and research
Problem driven or action oriented : results are used to improve a situation about real world problems
II – Why are they relevant ?
Assessing the quality of
research (relevance) :
Political science students need to be introduced to the approaches and methods of research :
Part 1 Knowing the different perspectives and approaches
Using the proper method for data collection and how to analyze it by ourselves
Be aware of the ethical aspect of doing research and get familiarized with them
Part 2 Initiation to experimental research
Descriptive and basic of inferential statistics (Excel)
Choosing a method depending on the aims of the research and the characteristics of the object
under study, it has to be selected wisely, there is not a good or bad method, only a better fit to conduct
quality research.
I – What are research methods ?
‘Rules of the game’ : codified insights on how to make credible claims in a scientific debate.
The construction of credibility is produced differently in different forums on the basis of specific sets
of standards - Realm of scientific debate (bound by the rules of sciences in order to establish oneself
as a credible and trustworthy researcher)
- Realm of public/political debate (can be based on a different way of reasoning, for
example : Trump’s administration and its “alternative facts”)
Natural scientists :
Study natural phenomena
Focus on the identification of general laws
On the basis of empirical evidence from observation and experimentation
Social scientists :
Study relations among individuals and societies
Test and construct theories to explain societal dynamics
Methodological pluralists using an array of methods
Critical of the phenomena studied and of their own position and research
Problem driven or action oriented : results are used to improve a situation about real world problems
II – Why are they relevant ?
Assessing the quality of
research (relevance) :
