M.

PHIL International Relations 1st Semester

Course Title: Research Methodology- Core
Course Code: IR- 601
Course Description
The course deals with three inter-related aspects of the social research, namely philosophy of
social inquiry, methodological techniques and stylistic techniques. The first aspect provides
an in-depth philosophical understanding of the significance of social/political research.
Different dialectics and dimensions as well as the fundamental differences between natural
scientific and hermeneutic approaches will be highlighted. The second aspect, firstly, focuses
on various components of the research proposal. Secondly, it provides the students with a
clear understanding of different qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The
third aspect deals with stylistic techniques such as format of research papers and citation
styles pertaining to footnotes and bibliography.

Course Objectives
The course aims to achieve the following objectives:

 Understanding of the importance, nature and dimensions of social/political research.

 Knowledge of various steps in the research process.
 Comprehension and differentiation between different types of research.
 Understanding of appropriate stylistic techniques to be followed for format, footnotes
and bibliography for research papers/theses.

Course Outcomes
At the completion of the course, the students will be able to:

 Understand the philosophy and significance of social/political research.

 Prepare research proposals properly.
 Carry out social research by properly following various steps of the research process.
 Understand the merits and demerits of different types of research and select
appropriate research methods.
 Prepare research papers/theses with correct format, footnotes and bibliography.

Recommended Readings
Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research. USA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2004.
Hoover, Kenneth R. The Elements of Social Scientific Thinking. New York: St. Martin Press,
2006.
Johnson, J. Buttolph and Richard A. Joslyn. Political Science Research Methods. Washington
DC: CQ Press, 1995.
Marsh, David and Gerry Stoker, eds. Theory and Methods in Political Science. London:
 Macmillan, 2006.
McNabb, David E. Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative and Qualitative
Approaches. USA: M.E. Sharpe, 2010.
Menheein, Jaral B., Richard C. Rich, and Lars Willnat, eds. Empirical Political Analysis:
Research Methods in Political Science. New York: Pretice Hall, 2002.
Neuman, W. Lawrence. Social Research Methods. India: Pearson, 2006.

Course Breakdown
Week 1-3
Research and Science
a) Ordinary approach to knowledge
b) Scientific approach to knowledge
c) Foundations of social science
d) Dialectics of social research
e) Dimensions of social research
f) Natural scientific vs hermeneutic approach

Week 4-6
Theory, Paradigms and Social Research
a) Role of theory in research
b) Major social science paradigms

Week 7-9
An overview of Research Methodology
a) Hypothesis, concepts and variables
b) Research process
c) Research design
d) Research proposal
e) Literature Review
f) Ethics in social research

Week 10-11
Qualitative Methods
a) Case-study method
b) Interviews
c) Observation
d) Documents analysis

Week 12-13
Quantitative Methods
a) Comparative method
b) Survey research
c) Content analysis
d) Statistical approaches
Week 14-15
Stylistic Techniques
a) Format
b) Citation style
c) Footnotes
d) Bibliography

Assessment Method
 Assignments
 Presentations
 Quizzes Class Participation
 Mid-term and End-term Exams