Research Design in Political Science

This course is an advanced-level mandatory methods course within the Master’s Programme in Political Science. It is also offered as a freestanding course.

Admission to the course requires a pass in at least 60 credits in the main field of political science (of which at least 30 credits from in-depth courses), or equivalent. In addition, language proficiency equivalent to English 6 or English Level 2 is required.

The course addresses how research design is used to answer research questions in political science and how different design choices shape the possibilities for both theoretical and empirical conclusions. Central themes include causal and descriptive research designs, identification strategies, assessments of validity, and how design choices affect the interpretation of empirical results.

Particular emphasis is placed on developing students’ analytical ability to compare and justify research designs, as well as to understand the epistemological and practical limitations associated with different research approaches. The course consists of both lectures and seminars in which students analyze published studies and formulate their own research design proposals.

After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• describe central principles and concepts in research design in political science

Skills and abilities

• select and justify a research design that appropriately addresses a given research question
• formulate a research question that can be answered by a specified research design
• analyze how design choices affect the interpretation of empirical results

Judgement and approach

• critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs
• evaluate how the structure of a research design affects the quality and limitations of the research produced

The course is offered as an on-campus course. Teaching is conducted through lectures and seminars. The lectures introduce central concepts and research designs, while the seminars are based on students’ own analyses of scholarly articles and provide a forum for in-depth discussion and formative feedback.

The course requires active participation from students.

Language of instruction: English

The course is assessed through a written in-person examination corresponding to 7.5 higher education credits, that is graded with Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), or Fail (U).

The written exam is conducted individually and without the use of aids. In the event of a failing result on the in-person exam, a re-exam must be taken.

Restrictions regarding the use of generative AI are specified in the course guide. Students are responsible for informing themselves of the applicable rules for assessed components such as take-home assignments, seminar assignments, and examinations in the course.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed.

For the course, one of the following grades is awarded: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), or Fail (U).

To receive the grade Pass (G) for the course as a whole, the student must obtain a passing grade on all assignments. To receive the grade Pass with Distinction (VG), the student must obtain the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) on the written exam.

To be awarded the grade Pass (G), the student must fulfil all intended learning outcomes.

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.