Session
|
Session Focus
|
Reading assignment
|
Other assignment
|
WK1A
5 Sept
|
Introduction to course. Embarking on a senior thesis
|
|
|
WK1B
7 Sept
|
What is Social and Political Research? Why do it? How to do it?
|
Guthrie, Ch 3. Research Proposal and Literature Review
|
Prepare research topics
|
WK2A
12 Sept
|
Library Session: Finding and Citing Sources
|
|
Start preliminary bibliography
|
WK2B
14 Sept
|
Critical and Strategic Reading
|
Gray, Ch 5. Searching, Critically Reviewing and Using the Literature
|
Draft preliminary research question
|
WK3A
19 Sept
|
From Topic to Question(s)
|
Gray, Ch 3. Selecting and Planning Research Proposals and Projects
|
Finish preliminary bibliography
|
WK3B
21 Sept
|
Bibliographies Due to Reference Librarian
From Topic to Question(s)
|
|
Work on annotated bibliography
|
WK4A
26 Sept
|
From Topic to Question(s)
|
|
Work on annotated bibliography
|
WK4B
28 Sept
|
From Topic to Question(s)
|
|
Work on annotated bibliography
|
W5A
3 Oct
|
Annotated Bibliographies Due
Doing a Literature Review
|
Guthrie, Ch. 4 Research Methodology
Examples of literature reviews of moodle
|
Work on Literature Review
|
WK5B
5 Oct
|
Operationalizing Concepts: How to Define Something so you can Study It
|
|
Draft preliminary outline
Read two articles (on moodle) for class discussion
|
WK6A
10 Oct
|
Variables and hypotheses
|
|
Work on Literature Review
|
WK6B
12 Oct
|
Using official statistics
|
Guthrie, Ch. 5 Sampling
|
Work on Literature Review
|
WK7A
17 Oct
|
Dealing with big data
|
Guthrie, Ch. 6 Case-study Method
Guthrie, Ch. 16 Quantitative Data
|
Work on Literature Review
|
WK7B
19 Oct
|
Survey design and analysis
|
Guthrie, Ch. 7 Survey Method
Guthrie, Ch. 12 Questionnaires
|
Work on Literature Review
|
WK8A
24 Oct
|
Literature Review Due Interviewing
|
Guthrie, Ch. 11 Interviews
|
|
WK8B
26 Oct
|
Ethnography
|
Guthrie, Ch. 10 Observation
|
|
WK9A
31 Oct
|
Qualitative data analysis
|
Guthrie, Ch. 15 Qualitative Data
|
Work on Social Science Research Project
|
WK9B
2 Nov
|
Using primary documents
|
Guthrie, Ch. 9 Available Data
Gray, Ch 23, Analysing and Presenting Qualitative Data
|
Work on Social Science Research Project
|
WK10A
7 Nov
|
Values and Ethics in Research
|
Guthrie, Ch 2. Research Ethics
|
|
WK10B
9 Nov
|
Social Science Research Projects Due
Formulating Good Cases
|
|
|
WK11A
14 Nov
|
Time-management and structuring a solid thesis
|
Gray, Ch. 24 Writing Up the Research
|
Work on Thesis Outline
|
WK11B
16 Nov
|
Constructing Arguments: logic, truth claims and determining causality
|
Guthrie, Ch. 17 Social Science English
|
Work on Thesis Outline
|
WK12A
21 Nov
|
Writing, editing and who to write for
|
Guthrie, Ch. 18 The Report
|
Work on Thesis Outline
|
WK12B
23 Nov
|
Assessing other theses
|
|
|
WK13A
28 Nov
|
Thesis Outlines Due
Individual meetings with students on research project
|
|
Final Research Project
|
WK13B
30 Nov
|
Individual meetings with students on research projects
|
|
Work on Final Research Project
|
WK14A
5 Dec
|
Conclusions
|
|
Work on Final Research Project
|
WK14B
7 Dec
|
Students present thesis chapter/research project
|
|
|
EXAMS WEEK
|
Students present thesis chapter/research project
|
|
|