Research Seminar (2225.YR.011251.2)

General information

Type:	OBL	Curs:	4	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	3 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 4	Marie Vandendriessche	Esade	ENG

In this course, students will learn and put into practice skills to conduct independent research. In doing so, they will also improve their ability to interpret and critically evaluate research in academic and professional contexts and gather tools to successfully conduct their final degree projects.

Upon completing the course, students should be able to:
- identify the key steps to designing academic research in the field of social sciences and apply them at a basic level;
- understand research design;
- operationalize variables and rigorously collect data;
- identify sources for academic research and critically assess their quality;
- structure academic writing according to standard practices; and
- accurately apply academic citation practices.

1. Introduction to academic research

2. Starting a research project

3. Operationalization and data collection

4. Working with sources

This course will be highly practical and interactive: all sessions will be designed to put research skills directly into practice. In other words, classes will be highly dynamic, featuring interactive lecturing, class discussions, discussions of readings, and frequent practical exercises to apply research skills. Student participation during the sessions will be crucial throughout. Students will be asked to prepare readings at home; it will be very important to prepare these thoroughly in order to contribute to the class discussions and exercises.

Note: This guide may be subject to changes in case of restrictions imposed by the competent authorities which affect teaching practices.

Compulsory and recommended readings (academic articles, reports, book chapters) will be distributed during the course.

The following book is considered recommended reading for the course:

King, G., Keohane, R. O., & Verba, S. (1994). Designing social inquiry: Scientific inference in qualitative research. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.

Group	Teacher	Department
Year 4	Marie Vandendriessche	Esade