Предлог истраживања

Циљеви изучавања предмета

The course aims to immerse MA students in the full research design cycle, equipping them with the conceptual toolkit to transform an initial idea into a rigorous academic investigation. By guiding learners through title formulation, problem statement, and literature synthesis, it ensures they can pinpoint a gap in political science scholarship and articulate it with clarity and precision. This foundational clarity serves as the bedrock for every subsequent stage of the research process.
Building on this foundation, the course strives to deepen students’ abilities to select and apply theoretical frameworks, construct logical argumentation, and choose appropriate methodologies. Through targeted workshops on theory selection, case-study methods, and methodological trade-offs, participants learn to justify their design choices in dialogue with existing scholarship. This critical engagement fosters not only methodological rigour but also intellectual creativity in crafting original research questions.
Ultimately, the course’s overarching aim is to produce confident, independent researchers capable of delivering a complete MA research proposal and, eventually, a thesis of publishable quality.

Исходи учења (стечена знања)

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
 Formulate a precise research title, articulate a clear problem statement, and derive focused research questions that address gaps in political science and policy debates.
 Conduct a systematic literature review, critically synthesise existing scholarship, and construct a coherent theoretical framework to underpin their own research projects.
 Select and justify appropriate research methodologies and case-study strategies, demonstrating understanding of qualitative and policy-oriented design choices.
 Develop logical, evidence-based arguments by integrating theory and empirical cases, ensuring internal coherence and scholarly rigour.
 Produce and present a complete MA research proposal—including title, problem statement, research questions, literature review, methodology, case selection, and bibliography—according to academic writing conventions.
 Adapt academic writing skills to draft various scholarly outputs, such as journal articles, policy briefs, and conference papers, with clarity and precision.

Садржај теоријске наставе

1. Introduction to the Course
2. Introduction to Academic Writing and Research Design
3. Stages of the MA Research Proposal and Thesis Process
4. Techniques for Crafting Effective Research Titles
5. Developing Precise Problem Statements
6. Methods for Formulating Focused Research Questions
7. Strategies for Conducting a Systematic Literature Review
8. Criteria for Selecting and Applying Theoretical Frameworks
9. Principles of Mapping and Structuring Logical Arguments
10. Overview of Qualitative and Policy-Oriented Methodologies
11. Design of Case Studies and Strategic Case Selection
12. Presenting, Critiquing, and Refining Research Proposal
13. Reading Week
14. Reading Week
15. Exam

1. Ringmar, E., “How to Write an Academic Paper”, Lund University, 2015

2. Guzzini, S., “Some basics on (mainly qualitative) research design”, 2020

3. Gustafsson, K. and Hagstrom, L. “What Is the Point? Teaching Graduate Students How to Construct Political Science Research Puzzles”, European Political Science 17 (4): 634–48, 2017

Lectures, seminars, summaries, written exam