Research Methods in International Relations
| Module title | Research Methods in International Relations |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC2048 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
This module will train you to design, justify, and plan independent research in International Relations. Conducting research in the field of International Relations poses unique challenges: how do we understand and access ‘the international’? What counts as data? What kind of causal claims can be made? What are the philosophical assumptions that underpin particular research processes, and how do they shape the questions that can be asked and answered?
The module will begin by introducing the historical context in which methodological and research processes have been debated in International Relations scholarship. You will be introduced to the so-called ‘great debates’ of International Relations, key principles of the philosophy of social science, and the possibilities for pluralist understandings of causality. After this, several staff – experts in their fields – will provide an introduction to their research approach/methods and the philosophical assumptions contained therein. Each staff member will also guide you through an in-depth application of their approach/method in the context of their cutting-edge research.
Through the module you will be taught how to generate your own research questions, design and plan an independent research project, and conduct a literature review.
While no prior knowledge skills or experience are required to take this module and it is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will:
- Introduce you to traditional and critical methodologies for the study of International Relations.
- Encourage you to develop, apply, reflect upon the use of these methods
- Train you in the skills to design, justify and conduct independent research in International Relations
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe, contrast and analyse competing theoretical and methodological perspectives on research in IR.
- 2. Develop and provide a rationale for a given research question, based on a critical review of scholarship.
- 3. Apply methodological approaches to the analysis of empirical and normative issues in international relations, and display a competent awareness of the underlying philosophical assumptions, the limitations, and the implications of each approach.
- 4. Use evidence to explain and defend the adoption of a particular methodological approach to the analysis of given research question.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Construct a logical academic argument supported by evidence.
- 6. Apply abstract theoretical approaches to new contexts in order to make sense of real world problems.
- 7. Identify and apply a conceptual framework from some academic sources in order to answer a question, and then explain the choice of this framework.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Formulate and present information and critical analysis, in both written and oral forms, in a coherent manner.
- 9. Understand assessment criteria, engage in critical yet constructive peer-evaluation and produce feedback and suggestions for improvement.
- 10. Work effectively with peers in order to present ideas and facilitate discussions
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
The ‘Great Debates’ of International Relations
Philosophy of Social Science: Ontologies, Epistemologies and Methodologies
Pluralist causality in International Relations research
Feminist Methods in war and militarisation
Archival Research, Genealogy and Problematisation in security policy
Narrative representation in conflict areas
Materialism in diplomacy
Critical game theory and quantitative methods in foreign policy
Student research conference
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 129 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 11 | 11 x 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 10 | 10 x 1-hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 38 | Reading assignments and preparing responses for seminar questions |
| Guided independent study | 38 | Research and preparation of data analysis |
| Guided independent study | 10 | Research and composition of Research Proposal Plan |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Research and composition of Essay |
| Guided Independent study | 3 | Composition of peer reviews |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation of Research Proposal | 10 minutes | 1-10 | Oral feedback from convenor and student peers |
| Data Analysis | 4x500 words | 1-9 | Oral feedback from convenor and student peers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literature Review | 55 | 2,000 words | 1-9 | Written |
| Research Proposal | 45 | 1,500 words | 1-9 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature Review | Literature Review (2000 words) | 1-9 | August/September assessment period |
| Research Proposal | Research Proposal (1500 words) | 1-9 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Indicative Basic reading:
Ackerly, Brooke A., Maria Stern, and Jacqui True, eds. Feminist methodologies for international relations. Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Aradau, Claudia, et al. Critical security methods: New frameworks for analysis. Routledge, 2014.
Jackson, Patrick Thaddeus. The conduct of inquiry in international relations: philosophy of science and its implications for the study of world politics. Routledge, 2010.
Klotz, Audie, and Deepa Prakash, eds. Qualitative methods in international relations. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.
Kurki, Milja. Causation in international relations: reclaiming causal analysis. Vol. 108. Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Lamont, Christopher. Research methods in international relations. Sage, 2015.
Lebow, Richard Ned. Constructing Cause in International Relations. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Rech, Matthew F., et al. "An Introduction to Military Research Methods." The Routledge Companion to Military Research Methods (2016)
Salter, Mark and Can Mutlu (eds). Research Methods in Critical Security Studies. Routledge, 2012.
Shepherd, Laura J. (ed) Critical Approaches to Security, Routledge, 2012.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 05/12/2016 |