GV504     
Research Methods in Political Theory

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Jan Kandiyali

Availability

This course is available on the MRes/PhD in Political Science. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

This course provides an introduction to the philosophical and methodological foundations of political theory. It aims to give doctoral students a comprehensive conceptual toolbox that can be brought to bear on many different substantive problems and research questions in political theory and neighbouring fields and will prepare doctoral students for choosing and reflecting on their methodological approach. The course runs in concurrence with the Political Philosophy Research Seminar and the Doctoral Workshop in Political Theory, complemented by a reading group in the Lent Term on methodological questions in political theory.

Teaching

This course is made up of seminars totalling 10 hours in the Lent Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of online and on-campus meetings/seminars. There will be a reading week in Week 6.

The seminars run in concurrence with GV501 and GV503, for which attendance is compulsory if students are taking GV504. These courses are made up of 18 hours of workshops/seminars each, which run throughout the Michaelmas, Lent and Summer Terms.

Formative coursework

Regular presentations in the reading group.

Indicative reading

Some possible choices for the reading group:

Assessment

Essay (50%, 4000 words) in the LT.
Essay (50%, 4000 words) in the ST.

The essay topics will be chosen in consultation with the course convenor, but typically, one will reflect on a paper given by a visiting speaker in the Doctoral Research Seminar, and the other on one or more of the books read for the Lent term Reading Group.

Key facts

Department: Government

Total students 2019/20: 2

Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.