Political Science C and for Master's students at least 15 credits from the first semester of the programme.
The course gives you the insights and skills required for meaningful participation in a research process, i.e. being able to examine the validity of arguments presented at seminar meetings. The essay assignment should train you to distinguish and define a research problem in political science, delimit and carry out a minor investigation relevant to this problem, and present the results in a clear and concise way. One aim is for you to learn the appropriate methods for surveying the existing knowledge as well as gathering adequate new data. You should then gain concrete experience with different investigation methods and learn how they can be used to solve the various tasks of a research project. You will also become familiar with different modes of interpreting and analysing research material and learn to draw well-considered conclusions. Furthermore, the course should make you understand the value of analysing, in a dialogue with others, the design of different research methods and constructively considering the views of others.
