Behörighetskrav

Statskunskap C, Utvecklingsstudier C eller motsvarande kunskap.

Mål

After completing the course, students are expected to:

- Be aware of the basic principles underlying descriptive and causal inference.

- Understand and be able to assess the criteria that make up a good theory.

- Be able to articulate new theory and revise existing theories in an effective manner.

- Be familiar with the language, purpose, and tradeoffs of formal theory.

- Understand the strengths of different kinds of qualitative research, including case-studies, small-N comparisons, qualitative comparative analysis, process tracing, and causal-process observation.

- Be able to apply various kinds of statistical inference, with awareness of their assumptions.

- Be able to create effective graphical presentations of data and judge those found in the media, and in policy and academic publications.

- Be aware of the different strategies for identifying and estimating causal effects, including multivariate regression, matching, exploiting use of natural experiments, and causal-process observation.

- Have thought extensively about the application of these methods in different research domains, and developed some design ideas for their own research.

Innehåll

The purpose of this course is to strengthen the ability to apply various methods in social science research, and to improve the understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different methodological techniques. The course covers both quantitative and qualitative techniques. It emphasizes the common principles on which small-n and large-n investigations are based, as well as highlighting relevant differences between the two as regards inferential logic and techniques.

The course discusses the different stages of the research process and the critical choices that a researcher is confronted with. What does a good research question look like? What criteria should guide theory formulation? What are the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs? How should empirical data be interpreted? The course discusses, among other things, the principles of inference and effective research, the criteria of good theory, the role of the mathematical formalisation of theory, the purpose of and examples of good research design, qualitative methods such as case-studies, small-n comparison, and causal-process observation, statistical methods for descriptive and causal inference, multivariate linear and logistic regression, graphical techniques for presentation of data, matching, natural experiments, instrumental variables, and multiple-comparisons and publication bias.

Undervisning

The course consists of a number of week-long segments involving lectures, mandatory seminars, and weekly homework. The course literature consists of books, articles, and practical examples. Some of the homework will involve using statistical software (Stata); copies of Stata can be purchased through expedition of the Department of Government or students may use the Stata-enabled computers in the data-lab.

Examination

Kursen examineras på grundval av seminariedeltagande och övningsuppgifter. Även skriftlig tentamen kan förekomma. Den skriftliga tentamen syftar till att ge underlag för betygssättningen av enskilda studerande men erbjuder dem även en möjlighet att repetera kursens innehåll och därmed befästa sina kunskaper.

Som betyg används VG (Väl godkänd), G (Godkänd) eller U (Underkänd).

För godkänt betyg krävs att den studerande:

* deltagit i obligatoriska seminarier samt redovisat allvarligt menade försök att lösa samtliga övningsuppgifter

* erhållit betyget godkänd på den skriftliga tentamen

Fördjupning i förhållande till examensfordringarna

Efter genomgången kurs förväntas den studerande:

• visa fördjupad metodkunskap inom huvudområdet för utbildningen
• visa sådan färdighet i metodkunskaper som fordras för att delta i forsknings- och utvecklingsarbete eller för att självständigt arbeta i annan kvalificerad verksamhet
• visa medvetenhet om etiska aspekter på forsknings- och utvecklingsarbete
• visa insikt om vetenskapens möjligheter och begränsningar, dess roll i samhället och människors ansvar för hur den används