Course syllabus Methods
Swedish name: Metod
Course code:
2PK053
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
15.0 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
VU
Main field of study:
Political Science: Security Studies
Department:
Department of Security, Strategy and Leadership
Subject:
Political Science: Security Studies
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Entry requirements
Accepted to the Master's Programme in Politics and War.
Course content and structure
Methods on how to study political and social phenomena are a core component of the social-scientific endeavour and play a fundamental role in understanding and explaining war and peace, as well as crisis management, security and defence policies. This course offers the student a comprehensive and systematic overview of existing approaches, methods and tools in war studies and political science. The course aims to provide the student with the necessary skills required to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of both qualitative and quantitative methods, and to be able to independently conduct scientific studies. The course includes both positivist and postpositivist approaches and methods. The course has a pluralistic aim and focuses on the different steps of the research process: concept formation, problem formulation, metatheory, research design, data collection techniques and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The student is given an introduction to well-established approaches as well as those at the forefront of the research field.
Instruction includes lectures and seminars.
Type of Instruction
Instruction includes lectures and seminars.
Objectives
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- assess qualitative and quantitative research designs, particularly those relevant to political science and war studies
- demonstrate an ability to use social science concepts in research design
- identify research problems
- develop an appropriate research design based on a research problem
- assess and choose suitable data collection techniques
- demonstrate ability to assess and conduct research from a positive and post-positive approach
- analyse data using a number of qualitative and quantitative methods.
Examination formats
Examination
Scope: 15.0
Grading Scale: Pass with Distinction, Pass, Fail
Assessment takes place individually through the submission of individual written assignments and active participation in mandatory seminars. The examiner may decide to allow supplementation in order to achieve a passing grade.
The examiner may decide that absence from mandatory seminars may be compensated by submitting a written supplementary assignment.
To earn the grade Pass with Distinction in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn Pass with Distinction on the majority of assignments, with no assignment receiving a grade below Pass.
To earn the grade Pass in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a grade of Pass or better for all written assignments.
Grading criteria are specified in the course description.
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities
Scope: 15.0
Grading Scale: Pass with Distinction, Pass, Fail
Assessment takes place individually through the submission of individual written assignments and active participation in mandatory seminars. The examiner may decide to allow supplementation in order to achieve a passing grade.
The examiner may decide that absence from mandatory seminars may be compensated by submitting a written supplementary assignment.
Grading
To earn the grade Pass with Distinction in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn Pass with Distinction on the majority of assignments, with no assignment receiving a grade below Pass.
To earn the grade Pass in the course, the student must actively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a grade of Pass or better for all written assignments.
Grading criteria are specified in the course description.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities
Transitional provisions
When a course is no longer provided or when the content of a course has been significantly altered, the student has the right to be examined in accordance with this course syllabus twice per academic year over a period of two years.
Other regulations
The course cannot be part of a degree whose content matches the content of this course in whole or in part.
The course is given within the Master's Programme in Politics and War.
On completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director and will serve as the basis for any changes to the course.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.
The course is given within the Master's Programme in Politics and War.
On completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director and will serve as the basis for any changes to the course.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.