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Political Science

Comparative Research Designs

When:

17 February - 22 February 2013

School:

ECPR Winter School in Methods & Techniques

Institution:

University of Vienna

City:

Vienna

Country:

Austria

Credits:

2 EC

Interested?
Please note: this course has already ended
Comparative Research Designs

About

The purpose of this course is to provide training on all aspects that enable a researcher to conceive and conduct the most appropriate comparative research design โ€“ the latter broadly defined as any research enterprise that comprises at least two โ€žcases‟ or observations. On the one hand, the course will cover fundamental questions โ€župstream‟ of practical and hands-on choices: what is comparison? Why compare; what is the added value of comparison? What should be the โ€žmindset‟ of a good comparative researcher? What is the link between a research puzzle and the choice for a comparative research design? What would be the alternative(s)? At which level(s) should the โ€žcases‟ be envisaged? Etc. On the other hand, the practicalities of different types of comparative research designs will be examined in detail, by following all the hands-on steps: (1) prior arbitrations and โ€žcasing‟, i.e. the definition of the cases; (2) case selection, through more basic or more advanced strategies; (3) collecting and managing comparative data; (4) comparative data analysis. A short introductory module on QCA (as part of a comparative research design) is also provided. The course is lecture-based (no lab work) and will also allow ample time for questions/answers and open discussions.

Course leader

Benoรฎt RIHOUX

Target group

advanced students and junior researchers in political science and adjacent disciplines

Course aim

as above

Interested?

When:

17 February - 22 February 2013

School:

ECPR Winter School in Methods & Techniques

Institution:

University of Vienna

Credits:

2 EC

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