A sound research design is the basis of good social science research. It entails formulating exact research questions, building adequate and measureable concepts, and selecting appropriate cases and data to answer questions. Research designs thereby ensure systematic, comprehensible and replicable studies. This seminar addresses MA students who are planning or working on a research project for their MA thesis. It is open to PhD students, if places are available (max number of 15 participants / first come, first served). We will meet in two to three blocked sessions. The first session will discuss texts on social science research design. It is structured into five sections: After an introduction we will tackle the topics of (1) research questions, (2) logics of explanation and causality, (3) cases and case selection, and (4) concepts and operationalization. We will talk about important issues and questions raised in the texts and apply them to your research projects. The second and (depending on the number of students) third session will discuss students’ research projects, or project ideas. The goal is for students to incorporate the content of the first session into their presentations. Each student will present her or his research design and will receive feedback from the group. If students are interested, part of the second session can also be dedicated to discuss new(ish) research methods: Qualitative Comparative Analysis, Sequence Analysis, Process Tracing or Network Analysis (see syllabus). The course takes a hands-on approach; students should apply course contents directly to their respective research projects. Students can also participate if they are not yet clear about their research topic, but are willing to work on some first ideas. The goal is for students to generate a framework of issues and questions of research design to get the ball rolling with their research. The workshop will take place on Saturday 24th of January and Saturday 31st of January from 10 am (s.t.) to 6 pm, and (depending on the number of participants) on Sunday 1st of February, 10 am until 4 pm. All participants must submit response papers to assigned readings as well as a description of their research project or research plans (1-2 pages) until January 10, 2015 (see syllabus). The workshop is limited to 15 students. You can register for the workshop starting Monday 5th of October. The first 15 to register can participate. Please do only register if you are sure that you want to take this class. Otherwise you will take someone else’s spot. Teilnahmeschein-Credits: submission of 1-2 page research outline or project ideas and submission of four response papers on readings (see Syllabus) until January 10, as well as attendance. Leistungsschein-Credits: Teilnahmeschein requirements plus 15-page essay. Please contact us if you have any questions. Anne Nassauer: anne.nassauer@fu-berlin.de Nicolas Legewie: nlegewie@diw.de close