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Syllabus Workshop: Designing your Research - 54882
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Last update 04-07-2018
HU Credits: 2

Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master)

Responsible Department: European Studies

Semester: 2nd Semester

Teaching Languages: English

Campus: Mt. Scopus

Course/Module Coordinator: Prof Gili S Drori

Coordinator Email: gili.drori@mail.huji.ac.il

Coordinator Office Hours: Wednesdays 10:30-11:30

Teaching Staff:
Prof Gili S Drori

Course/Module description:
The course is designed to guide research students (MA and PhD) towards composing the research proposal for their MA thesis of PhD dissertation; it is also relevant for student working towards their research seminar paper. To this aim, the study plan includes acquisition of academic research tools for designing an independent-mentored study, selection of research topic and question, preliminary literature review, building mentorship relations, developing research strategy relevant to the research direction, accreditation in research ethics, and composition of a comprehensive and revised research proposal.
Course assignments are sequential, reflecting stages of research planning process and submission deadlines are “road marks” in the progress towards a comprehensive research proposal. Therefore, the research proposal required for completion of the course is an accumulation – and revision – of assignments submitted along the semester.

Course/Module aims:
Course is intended to guide research students (MA and PhD) towards composing the research proposal for their MA thesis of PhD dissertation. Specific goals are:
acquisition of academic research tools for designing an independent-mentored study, selection of research topic and question, preliminary literature review, building mentorship relations, developing research strategy relevant to the research direction, accreditation in research ethics, and composition of a comprehensive and revised research proposal.

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Comprehensive, even if preliminary, research proposal for MA thesis or PhD dissertation;
- Recruitment of faculty mentor;
- Receipt of CITI ethics in research certificate.

Attendance requirements(%):
Compulsory-elective; graded.

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Course combines lectures, exercises, discussions, and student presentations, along with one-on-one meetings, on-line certification and…plenty of writing and rewriting of the proposal.

Course/Module Content:
Variety of topics that shall guide research students (MA and PhD) towards composing the research proposal for their MA thesis of PhD dissertation. Among the topics are: What is an independent-mentored research? Developing criteria for topic selection; Preparing for the literature review; Selection of research question, and relevant research strategy; Planning the process of research and writing; Student presentations of their work.

Required Reading:
- Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. 1995. “From topics to questions.” In The Craft of Research, University of Chicago Press, pp. 35-45.
- Karnieli-Miller, Orit, Roni Strier, and Liat Pessach. 2009. "Power relations in qualitative research." Qualitative Health Research 19(2): 279-289
- Geddes, Barbara. 1990. “How the cases you chose affect the answers you get: Selection bias in comparative politics.” Political Analysis, 2(1): 131-150
- Lipson, Charles. 2005. “”Every thesis should have a thesis.” In How to Write a BA Thesis? University of Chicago Press, pp. 110-119
- Frances Kelly. (2011). “‘Cooking together disparate things’: the role of metaphor in thesis writing.” Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 48(4): 429-438

Additional Reading Material:
* Only as far as required for the topical focus of the literature review and the research proposal; and, based on prior consultation with Prof. Drori.

Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 0 %
Participation in Tutorials 0 %
Project work 0 %
Assignments 0 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 100 %
see additional information

Additional information:
Course/module assessment; Percent of final grade (%):
10% &eq; CITI on-line course and certification
45% &eq; submission of 2 mid-term written assignments and in-class presentation (15% each)
25% &eq; final, comprehensive and re-written research proposal (for thesis or dissertation)
10% &eq; one-on-one meetings (with Prof. Drori and potential mentor; 5% each)
10% &eq; attendance and participation

Additional information:
- Mandatory course for the European Forum’s M.A. students registered in the research track and PhD candidates.
 
Students needing academic accommodations based on a disability should contact the Center for Diagnosis and Support of Students with Learning Disabilities, or the Office for Students with Disabilities, as early as possible, to discuss and coordinate accommodations, based on relevant documentation.
For further information, please visit the site of the Dean of Students Office.
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