Information Package
baskent.edu.tr

M.A. in Political Science without Thesis

PSIR525

RESEARCH METHODS

Course Code
PSIR525
Semester
First Term (Fall)
Theory+Practice
3 + 0
ECTS
10
Course TypeCompulsory Course
Course LevelMaster's Degree Without Thesis
Year of Study1
SemesterFirst Term (Fall)
ECTS10
Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

  1. Explain the fundamental principles and stages of scientific research in the social sciences.
  2. Develop their own research designs by establishing a relationship between theory, method, and research question.
  3. Compare qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques.
  4. Become academically, ethically, and methodologically prepared for the master's thesis process.
  5. Recognize and apply the principles of scientific research ethics.
Mode of DeliveryFace to face
PrerequisitesNo
Recommended Optional Programme ComponentsNo recommended optional programme components.
Course DescriptionThis course introduces the basic principles and processes of conducting research in the social sciences. Students are expected to grasp the logic of scientific knowledge production, design research projects, and develop informed preferences between qualitative and quantitative meth-ods. The course covers the role of theory, research question formulation, data collection and analysis techniques, and the fundamentals of research ethics. In addition, students will have the opportunity to develop practical research skills such as literature review, article presentation, and thesis proposal writing at the graduate level.
Course Contents
WEEK TOPICS
1st Week Introduction: Scientific Thinking in the Social Sciences and the Nature of Sci-entific Knowledge
2nd Week Introduction to Epistemology: Positivism, Interpretivism, and Critical Theory
3rd Week How to Conduct a Literature Review? Citation Practices and Reading Strate-gies
4th Week Developing Research Questions: Problematization and Theoretical Positioning
5th Week Theory, Concept, and Theorizing: Conceptualization and Operationalization
6th Week Research Design and Methodological Framework: Hypotheses, Sub-questions, and Variables
7th Week Sampling and Levels of Measurement: Core Methodological Choices
8th Week Quantitative Methods I: Survey Design and Quantitative Data Collection Techniques
9th Week Quantitative Methods II: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics Applications
10th Week Qualitative Methods I: In-depth Interviewing, Focus Groups, Participant Ob-servation
11th Week Qualitative Methods II: Thematic and Discourse Analysis
12th Week Mixed Methods: Integrating Distinct Methodological Logics
13th Week Thesis Writing Process: Time Management, Structural Planning, and Writing Techniques
14th Week Research and Publication Ethics: Case Discussions and Ethical Principles
Recommended or Required ReadingBryman, Alan. 2016. Social Research Methods. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Yıldırım, Ali, and Hasan Şimşek. 2018. Sosyal Bilimlerde Nitel Araştırma Yöntemleri. 11. Baskı. Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. 2016. The Craft of Research. 4th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
King, Gary, Robert O. Keohane, and Sidney Verba. 1994. Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Creswell, John W. 2018. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Ap-proaches. 5th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Guba, Egon G., and Yvonna S. Lincoln. 1994. ?Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research.? In Handbook of Qualitative Research, edited by Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln, 105?117. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Kuhn, Thomas S. 2018. Bilimsel Devrimlerin Yapısı. Translated by Nilüfer Kuyaş. 12. Baskı. İstanbul: Alan Yayıncılık.
Adcock, Robert, and David Collier. 2001. ?Measurement Validity: A Shared Standard for Qua-litative and Quantitative Research.? American Political Science Review 95 (3): 529?546.
Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. 2006. ?Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology.? Quali-tative Research in Psychology 3 (2): 77?101.
Mouffe, Chantal. 1999. ?Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism?? Social Theory 66 (3): 745-758.
Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Presentation
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Quantity Percentage (%)
Assignment 6 60
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
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work 14 6 84
Preparation for Final exam 1 30 30
Course hours 14 3 42
Preparation for Midterm exam
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam 1 3 3
Homework 6 25 150
Total Work Load309
Total Work Load / 30 (h)10.3
ECTS Credit of the Course10
Language of InstructionTurkish
Work Placement(s)No

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
K1 X
K2 X X
K3
K4
K5 X
K6 X
K7
K8 X X X X