FSS:MVZb2060 Internet-based Research - Course Information

MVZb2060 Introduction to Internet-based Research

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Taught in person.

Teacher(s)

Maya Higgins, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies

Timetable

Tue 14:00–15:40 U23

Prerequisites

This course is offered in English with all readings and discussions in this language. As such, proficiency in English to an academic standard is required. Don't worry if English is not your native language- minor linguistic errors will not affect the assessment of your work. Attention! This course will be taught as a bulk course, online, in the first seven weeks of the semester (see specific dates in the interactive syllabus). Sessions will be recorded and made available to students who can't fully participate in the course due to other academic commitments.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

This introductory course will develop an overview of concepts, methods, and applications of Internet-based research. Alongside a theoretical discussion and a review of relevant scholarship, special attention is given to applying theoretical knowledge learned during the course in designing and conducting your own online surveys/questionnaires, and analyzing them (basic analysis- no scary statistics!). The course is composed of three parts: - The first part will focus on a theoretical understanding of core concepts of internet-based research, the background to challenges of conducting internet-based research, different sources of data online, etc. - In the second part of the course, students will have the opportunity to practice their newly acquired knowledge in designing and executing their own online surveys. In the third part of the course, online indices as data sources in academic research conducted in political science and international relations will be discussed in-depth. We will explore the most common indices seeking to measure and rank states’ political development and performance. We will assess their relative weaknesses and strengths and read multidisciplinary academic literature, utilizing such data. Attention! This course will be taught as a bulk course, online, in the first seven weeks of the semester (see specific dates in the interactive syllabus). Sessions will be recorded and made available to students who can't fully participate in the course due to other academic commitments.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course: • Students should acquire a solid understanding of concepts central to the fields of internet-based research. • Students would be familiar with the most commonly used indices in research international relations and political science. • Students would possess basic skills and competencies to design and conduct online surveys. * Students would possess the basic skills necessary to analyse internet-based data, thus enabling them to use such data in their future studies. Attention! This course will be taught as a bulk course, online, in the first seven weeks of the semester (see specific dates in the interactive syllabus). Sessions will be recorded and made available to students who can't fully participate in the course due to other academic commitments.

Syllabus

• The syllabus is available in the IS to registered students. Attention! This course will be taught as a bulk course, online, in the first seven weeks of the semester (see specific dates in the interactive syllabus). Sessions will be recorded and made available to students who can't fully participate in the course due to other academic commitments.

Literature

• The Sage handbook of qualitative research. Edited by Norman K. Denzin - Yvonna S. Lincoln - Michael D. Giardina - Gaile Slo. Sixth edition. Los Angeles: Sage, 2024, lviii, 741. ISBN 9781071836743. info
• NORTHEY, Margot, Lorne TEPPERMAN and Patrizia ALBANESE. Making sense : a student's guide to research and writing : social sciences. Eight edition. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2023, vii, 324. ISBN 9780190164355. info
• MILLER, Jane E. Making sense of numbers : quantitative reasoning for social research. Los Angeles: Sage, 2022, xxxvi, 569. ISBN 9781544355597. info

Teaching methods

This course will be taught as a bulk course, online, in the first seven weeks of the semester (see specific dates in the interactive syllabus). Sessions will be recorded and made available to students who can't fully participate in the course due to other academic commitments.

Assessment methods

This is a pass/fail course. A passing grade will be awarded to students based on the quality of a short presentation in class. Presentations will be made in couples, via Zoom, on Friday, November 10th, 10:30-14:00.

Language of instruction

English

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

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