MVPd0002 Quantitative Research in International and European Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 20 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Petr Ocelík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Petr Ocelík, 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
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract
The course introduces selected quantitative research methods in International and European Politics and their application in doctoral research. It focuses on core concepts of quantitative inquiry, measurement, inference, exploratory data analysis, cluster analysis, and discourse network analysis. Students apply the methods to their own dissertation-related research problems.
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Understand key concepts and assumptions of quantitative research.

  • Select appropriate quantitative methods for specific research questions.

  • Apply cluster analysis and discourse network analysis to empirical data.

  • Interpret and critically assess quantitative results within a broader research design.

Key topics
  1.  Foundations of quantitative research and research design 
  2.  Measurement, units of analysis, and statistical inference
  3.  Exploratory data analysis
  4.  Cluster analysis (distance metrics, hierarchical, and k-means clustering)
  5.   Discourse network analysis (text coding and network methods)
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • ALDENDERFER, Mark S. and Roger K. BLASHFIELD. Cluster analysis. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications, 1984, 88 s. ISBN 0803923767. info
  • NAVARRO, D. J., & FOXCROFT, D. R. (2022). Learning statistics with jamovi.
  • ROBINS, Garry. Doing social network research : network-based research design for social scientists. First published. Los Angeles: Sage, 2015, xiv, 261. ISBN 9781446276136. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
The course combines lectures with seminars.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Students submit two written methodological assignments (cluster analysis and discourse network analysis) applied to their dissertation-related research (3–6 pages each). In addition, they prepare and present a final presentation applying a quantitative (or mixed-methods) approach to their doctoral project. Assignments are graded; the presentation is evaluated as pass/fail.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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