3 ECTS credits
75 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4022164ENR for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Political Science
Educational team
Vjosa Musliu (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

14 contact hours Lecture
61 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course provides a general understanding of the building blocks of writing a master thesis. The course is designed around research methodology in social and political sciences through the exploration of different phases of a research project: state of the art, formulating research questions, formulating research problems and research hypothesis, data gathering / collection and data interpretation / analysis, theoretical framework. Because the course takes place in the first semester when students have just started exploring the trajectory of a master thesis, special attention to the course (including the course assignment and presentation) will be dedicated to developing research questions; formulating research problems / hypothesis; and understanding the state of the art. The course will also introduce research methods (data gathering / collection and data interpretation / analysis), and theoretical framework, though students will navigate both of them in consultation with their supervisor throughout the research and writing process.

Course material
Handbook (Required) : Interpretation and Method, Empirical Research Methods and the Interpretive Turn, Yanow, D. and Shwartz-Shea, P., 2de, New York: M.E. Sharpe, 9780765635402, 2013
Handbook (Required) : Social Research Methods, Bryman A., 4th edition, Oxford University Press, 9780198796053, 2021
Handbook (Recommended) : Doing a Literature Review, Releasing the Research Imagination, Hart, C., 2nd edition, Sage Publications, 9781526419217, 2018
Handbook (Recommended) : Research Methods, Design and Analysis, Christensen L.B., Burke Johnson R. & Turner L., 12th edition, Boston: Pearson, 9780205963621, 2014
Digital course material (Required) : Reading material, slides, audio-visual material, Canvas
Additional info

This is a 3 ECTS course and the idea is to expose the students to the main building blocks of researching and writing a master thesis. Students should keep in mind that writing a master thesis dissertation is in large part conducted through self-learning and regular consultations with your supervisor.

Weekly reading materials will be uploaded on Canvas. They include book chapters and journal articles.

For any questions you might have related to the course, please post your question on Canvas > Discussions. That way my responses can be beneficial for your classmates as well who usually have similar questions. Please note that it takes me 3-4 working days to respond to my emails, so questions related to the course are best addressed on Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

General Competences

The course takes place in parallel with the development of students’ MA thesis, for what the main learning outcomes are highly connected with producing an original piece of research:

  • Explore the elements that a research proposal needs to contain and write an own piece.
  • Draw into the iterative nature of the phases that a research project involves.
  • Build relevant research questions and identify the main elements of a research puzzle.
  • Assess the appropriateness of using certain methodologies in each research design.
  • Design research protocols to get primary data for the projects.
  • Present the initial findings and reflect on the whole research process.

 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 30% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Assignment with a relative weight of 70 which comprises 70% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Presentation with a relative weight of 30 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The final grade is composed of the Assignment (70%) and Presentation (30%).

  • The assignment is a holistic overview of your master thesis, albeit a work in progress. The student is able to formulate clear and concise arguments about all the selected literature. The different sources are defined with precise and rich language. Each paragraph has an overall rationale, which it can be easily identified when reading through it. The student is able to explain with great lucidity how different works are connected and how do they differ. Direct quotation is only used when it adds an evident value to the narration and it does not disrupt the rhythm of the text. The assignment should be written in the form of an essay of maximum 5000 words (including references and citations).
  • Every student will present their ongoing thesis (5 minutes). After each session, the lecturer will provide the student with feedback on: 1) clarity of the topic; 2) clarity of research questions; 3) compatibility with research methods; 4) compatibility with research methods. 
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Political Science: European and International Governance: Standaard traject