Course title: Introduction to Research Methods
Course teacher: Ksenija Klasnić, PhD, Associate Professor, Sanja Potkonjak, PhD, Full Professor
Year of the study: 1
ECTS credits: 4
Associate teachers: Izvor Rukavina, Lecturer, Vedran Halamić, Assistant
Type of instruction (number of hours L + E + S + e-learning): 2L + 2S
Expected enrolment in the course: 25
Status of the course: Mandatory
Course objectives: To acquaint students with the basic principles of science and research procedures in the social sciences, basic concepts and research processes and the characteristics and scope of various research methods used in the practice of social research.
The objectives of the seminar part of the course are to illustrate the application of various empirical methods and techniques and to discuss the connection between methodological theory and practice, to present a range of recent research in the field of social sciences. In addition, it seeks to contribute to the development of generic professional competencies through work on a concise presentation of complex content, evaluation of scientific and professional papers and sensitization for public appearances.
Enrolment requirements and/or entry competences required for the course: None
Learning outcomes at the level of the programme to which the course contributes:
(1) Specify and explain the fundamental quantitative and qualitative research methods
(2) Evaluate the empirical validity of statements and conclusions in various types of texts
(3) List and explain the types of sources and strategies for collecting quantitative data
(4) Recognize, use, integrate, and document data from various sources
(5) Apply ethical principles in research and professional work
Expected learning outcomes at the level of the course
(1) Define the basic purpose and goals of scientific and applied research.
(2) Define the basic concepts and processes of social research.
(3) List and briefly present the basic research methods in the social sciences.
(4) Evaluate the basic features of empirical research presented in the scientific literature.
(5) Summarize complex empirical contents and present them in public.
Course content (syllabus):
(1) Introduction to the course
(2) Science and research; scientific and non-scientific approaches to cognition; basic assumptions of science; science goals; fundamental aspects of scientific research; basic approaches in the classification of social research.
(3) Elements and criteria of scientific theory; functions of theory in research; theories and paradigms; research paradigms; approaches to theory making; deductive and inductive model of science.
(4) Research design – elements and time dimension. Sources of research ideas; elements of the research process; units of analysis; transverse and longitudinal draft, cohort and panel studies. Causality and correlation; idiographic and nomothetic causality. Ethical aspects of social research.
(5) Conceptualization, operationalization and measurement. Concepts; indicators and dimensions; nominal and operational definitions; variables and attributes; measurement and measurement levels.
(6) Sampling and sampling; sample and population; sampling procedure; non-probabilistic patterns; probabilistic patterns and the logic of probabilistic sampling; sampling hard-to-reach groups.
(7) Experiment and social sciences; classic experimental design; variables, control, participant selection, and validity in the experimental design; variations of the experimental design; quasi-experiment, “natural” experiment and evaluation research; advantages and disadvantages of experimental design.
(8) Survey method: planning and conducting a survey, guidelines for formulating survey questions and constructing a survey questionnaire, sources of errors and validity and reliability related to survey questions and questionnaires, data collection techniques, field survey, self-completion of the questionnaire, structured interview, use of IC technology in survey research, telephone interview, on-line survey, sources of errors related to survey research, advantages and disadvantages of survey methods.
(9) Qualitative research methods – basic features. Delimitation of quantitative and qualitative approaches; fundamental theoretical-research paradigms; naturalism and ethnography; interactionism and ethno-methodology; grounded theory, case study and action research.
(10) Introduction to processing and analysis of qualitative data and evaluation of results.
(11) Interview and focus groups – Basic features of qualitative interview and its implementation; semi-structured and unstructured interview; advantages and disadvantages of a qualitative interview. Focus groups – basic features of the focus group method; group dynamics and conducting a group interview; advantages and disadvantages of the method.
(12) Method of observation – Behavior appropriate for observation; lay and research observation; types of observer roles; preparatory, implementing and analytical standards; methodological advantages and disadvantages; ethical aspects of the observation method.
(13) Unobtrusive research – characteristics and advantages of the approach; data sources; secondary data analysis; secondary data analysis; meta-analysis; methodological limitations of access.
(14) Content analysis – Characteristics and purpose of application; distinguishing between qualitative and quantitative content analysis; units of analysis; sampling; coding and data processing; advantages and disadvantages of the method.
(15) Final considerations of the course
Format of instruction: Lectures, seminars and workshops
Student responsibilities: The course is performed by a combination of lectures and discussion seminars in which the topic of the weekly lecture is elaborated. Students at the seminar work in collaborative groups. The course is based on direct teaching methods. Student progress in the course is evaluated through individual work in seminar classes and through the final written exam.
Monitoring student work: Class attendance, seminar paper
