Political Science and International Relations (With Thesis)

GS 591 | Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Name

Research Design and Methods in Social Sciences

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
GS 591	Fall	3	0	3	7.5

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Required
Course Level	Second Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	-
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	Prof. Dr. Çiğdem KENTMEN ÇİN
Course Lecturer(s)	Prof. Dr. Çiğdem KENTMEN ÇİN Profesör Dr. İ Hakan YETKİNER
Assistant(s)	-

Course Objectives

The course is intended to provide a solid foundation for research design and methods in social sciences for students to use in their graduate studies. This course aims to prepare graduate students to comprehend the tools, subjects and methods related with the logic of the scientific inquiry, research design, and qualitative and quantitative research methods. The course also aims to reinforce awareness of the research process and ability to conduct research in an ethical and comprehensive way via suitable research strategies.

Learning Outcomes

#	Content	PC Sub	* Contribution Level
#	Content	PC Sub	1	2	3	4	5
1	Use both qualitative and quantitative research techniques
2	Define a research problem
3	Formulate research questions and/or hypothesis for a given topic
4	Write a research proposal
5	Conduct an independent research project
6	Evaluate and report the results deriving from a research project
7	Comprehend the ethical responsibilities of a social sciences researcher

Course Description

The aim of the course is to deliver a complete understanding of the various research methods used in social sciences, and to establish necessary practical skills required for their application. In this course, students will develop a formal research proposal for a master thesis or term project on a topic related to their individual graduate programs, with the supervision of their advisors, to be presented to the academic staff of the related graduate program.

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation	Learning Outcome
1	Introduction to Research and the Scientific Method in Social Sciences	Chapter 1, Cozby (2009)
2	Developing Research Questions and Hypotheses	Chapter 2, Daymon and Holloway (2011)
3	Stages of Research in Social Sciences	-
4	Stages of Research in Social Sciences	-
5	Stages of Research in Social Sciences
6	Research Designs and Methods	Chapter 6, Daymon and Holloway (2011)
7	Data Collection Methods: Surveys and Interviews	Chapter 7, Cozby (2009)
8	Data Collection Methods: Content and Discourse Analysis	Stemler, Steve. 2002 “An overview of content analysis.” Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation 7(17): 1-6. Mullet, Dianna R. 2018. “A general critical discourse analysis framework for educational research.” Journal of Advanced Academics 29(2): 116-142
9	Scientific Output
10	Scientific Output	-
11	Student Presentations
12	Student Presentations
13	Term Project Writing
14	Term Project Writing
15	Term Project Writing
16	Review of the Semester

Course Notes/Textbooks

Benton & Craib (2010), Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought, 2^nd Edition, Palgrave Macmillan (ISBN-10: 023024260X)

Danermark et al. (2001) Explaining Society: Critical Realism in the Social Sciences, Routledge (ISBN-10: 041522182X)

King et al. (1994), Designing Social Inquiry; Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research, Princeton University Press (ISBN-10: 9780691034713)

Rich et al. (2018), “Empirical Political Analysis; Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, Routledge (ISBN-10: 1138088773)

Suggested Readings/Materials

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities	Number	Weighting	LO 1	LO 2	LO 3	LO 4	LO 5	LO 6	LO 7
Participation	1	5
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments	1	35
Presentation / Jury	1	30
Project	1	30
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm
Final Exam
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	1	40
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade	1	60
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	16	3	48
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments	1	45	45
Presentation / Jury	1	84	84
Project			0
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms			0
Final Exam			0
		Total	225

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#	PC Sub	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	PC Sub	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to improve theoretical and conceptual proficiencies on Political Science and International Relations and use them competently.		-	-	-	-	-
2	To be able to evaluate critically the relationships between various factors in the field of Political Science and International Relations such as structures, actors, institutions and culture.		-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to determine and question the theoretical and empirical gaps in Political Science and International Relations literature.		-	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to identify the political and cultural conditions that generate discrimination mechanisms based on race, ethnicity, gender and religion at national and international levels.		-	-	-	-	-
5	To be able to gather and analyze data by using scientific research methods.		-	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to analyze and evaluate the historical continuity and changes observed in the relations between the actors and institutions of national and international politics.		-	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to present individual research and contemporary developments in Political Science and International Relations in written, oral, and visual forms.		-	-	-	-	-
8	To be able to take responsibility in generating solutions to the problems that arise in relation to the politics in daily life.		-	-	-	-	-
9	To be able to determine the institutional and political instruments for conflict resolution in domestic and international politics.		-	-	-	-	-
10	To be able to prepare a thesis/term project about Political Science and International Relations based on scientific criteria.		-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to follow new research and developments in Political Science and International Relations and participate the debates in academic meetings through a foreign language.		-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to have ethical, social and scientific values in the stages throughout the processes of gathering, interpreting, disseminating and implementing data relevant to Political Science and International Relations.		-	-	-	-	-