Research design

18 November & 9 December 2022

Mme Elisa Volpi, CUSO

Dr. Nadja Mosimann 

Did you recently start a PhD in political science? Are you supposed to hand in a research design soon-ish? No worries, we got you covered!

In this course, we explore research design issues related to political science and the challenges therein. You will also get extensive feedback on your research design ideas!

The course consists of a first session on November 18 and a second session on December 9. In November, we start with a lecture on how theoretical and empirical outlines could be designed in political science. In the afternoon, we discuss a selection of texts pertaining to designing research in social science in general and political science in particular. You will read these texts prior to our session and send me, based on this reading, three questions that you would like to address in class (mosimann(at)ipz.uzh(dot)ch, no later than November 15).

In December, we finish the course with the presentation and discussion of your research designs (in French, German or English, three pages max): What is your research question? Why does it matter? How do you plan to tackle it methodologically and empirically?

Each research design will be circulated prior to our second session and you get extensive feedback from your peers and me.

Tentative schedule

November 18th

10:00 - 11:15

Coffee break

11:30 - 13:00

Lunch

14.00 - 15:15

Coffee break

15.30 - 17:00

December 9th 

10:00 - 11:15

Coffee break

11:30 - 13:00

Lunch

14.00 - 15:15

Coffee break

15.30 - 17:00

Bern

The event takes place at the University of Bern, in Room 116, at Mittelstrasse 43. Travel costs and lunches/coffee breaks are all covered by the CUSO.

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