INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

POLI445

Course Code: POLI445
Semester: -
Theory+Practice: 3 + 0
ECTS: 5

Course Type

Elective Course

Course Level

Bachelor's Degree

Year of Study

Semester

ECTS

Name of Lecturer(s)

Instructor Ahmet Zeki Bulunç

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

write, present, and defend scientific researchs and studies more effectively and efficiently.
gain experience if the research subject or projects are completed in accordance with scientific research methods and writing rules at the end of the semester.
acquire competitive traits for graduate study.

Mode of Delivery

Face to face

Prerequisites

Recommended Optional Programme Components

No recommended optional programme components.

Course Description

The primary goal of this course is to prepare students to conduct and complete their research projects using the scientific method. The course material is designed to guide students throughout the research process, enhancing their understanding of academic research. As a result, students will feel more confident and well-prepared for their future academic endeavors. The course will also introduce students to the basic qualitative techniques used to design and carry out research in social sciences disciplines. The students will learn about the skills of academic writing with its own set of rules and practices (such as making an argument, formulating questions, unifying and developing ideas). More importantly, the course will cover ethical concerns, plagiarism and standard documentation formats.

Course Contents

WEEK	TOPICS
1^st Week	Introduction to the course
2^nd Week	Science and Scientific Research
3^rd Week	Research Process
4^th Week	Research Design and Analysis of Qualitative Data
5^th Week	Research Ethics. Rules and Principles. Academic Misconduct
6^th Week	Getting started with your research project.
7^th Week	Midterm Exam
8^th Week	Literature Review and Academic Writing
9^th Week	Constructing a Research Design.
10^th Week	Research Management
11^th Week	Discussing examples of successful scientific research.
12^th Week	Completing your research - writing a comprehensive conclusion for your research question
13^th Week	Presenting your proposals to the jury/committee/classmates.
14^th Week	Presenting your proposals to the jury/committee/classmates

Recommended or Required Reading

Baglione, Lisa A. (2016). Writing A Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure and Methods. Los Angeles: CQ Press.
Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices. USF Tampa Bay Open Access Textbooks Collection.
Bassot, B. (2020). The Research Journal: A Reflective Tool for Your First Independent Research Project. Bristol: Policy Press.
Neuman, Lawrence W. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (7th ed.). Pearson.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture

Assessment Methods and Criteria

	Quantity	Percentage (%)
Mid-term	1	30
Project	1	20
Attendance	1	10
Total(%)		60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)		60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)		40
Total(%)		100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam	1	1	1
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work	14	3	42
Preparation for Final exam
Course hours	14	3	42
Preparation for Midterm exam	1	25	25
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam
Homework	1	40	40
Total Work Load			150
Total Work Load / 30 (h)			5
ECTS Credit of the Course			5

Language of Instruction

English

Work Placement(s)

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

	LO1	LO2	LO3
K1
K2
K3
K4	X	X	X
K5
K6
K7	X
K8
K9
K10
K11	X	X	X
K12
K13