Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Research Design
Module Code	LG600
School	School of Law & Government
Online Module Resources
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

This Module aims to transform research students from unconscious to conscious thinkers. Research is only defensible if it designed. Research is effectively a series of choices. The module seeks to show students that choices are unavoidable and what is at stake when choices are made. The module stresses the logical process of research design, instead of the frequently technical emphasis of research methods courses or the abstract concerns of philosophy of science.

Learning Outcomes

1. Present a methodological critique of a research article.
2. Present and defend her own research design.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	10	Please see content
Seminars	14	Please see content
Independent learning time	101	Please see content
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Lectures.
1. Introduction: Philosophy of Science2. Purpose, Object and Methodology3. The Statistical Methodology4. Qualitative Research and the Quantitative Template5. The Broader Qualitative Approach6. Constructivist Methodology.

Methodological critiques.
Students will be asked to prepare and present critiques of research articles using the perspectives introduced earlier in the course..

Research Proposal Presentations.
Each student will be asked to prepare and defend their research topic as set of conscious methodological choices..

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Project	Research Design for PhD	90%	Week 12
Oral presentations	Critique of research article	10%	Week 9

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Gary King, Robert Keohane, Sidney Verba: 0, Designing Social Inquiry,
Todd Landman: 0, Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics,
The Craft of Political Research: 0, The Craft of Political Research,
Henry Brady and David Collier: 0, Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards,
Jonathon Moses and Torbjorn Knutsen: 0, Ways of Knowing: Competing Methodologies in Social and Political Research,

Other Resources

None

Yes! Lots of detail available on Moodle! http://moodle.dcu.ie/course/view.php?id=32045

Programme or List of Programmes

ALPD

PhD

ALPM

ALPT

PhD-track

ARAPM

Master of Arts

ARPD