Brush up your research design

In the academic year 2023-2024 this course will take place offline.

The objective of this course is to support you in designing (or brushing up, or revising) your research project in such a way that you will achieve your research aim. The course will provide you with a set of procedures and criteria (tips and tricks) that, in a structured manner, will help you to make decisions about your research design and methods that are consistent with your research aim. Throughout the course you’ll be invited to identify possible risks and/or inconsistencies in your design (including but not limited to risks related to having access to data sources).

The logic of this approach follows the usual phases of an empirical study, from the specification of its aim against the background of an evaluation of previous research, through case/sample selection and measurement decisions, to the production of the study’s results, their interpretation and their reporting. You will practice this approach by applying it to your own research project, focusing on rigor, relevance and practicalities of your research design.

The course is designed and primarily useful for PhD candidates who are about to complete their research design. It can however also be useful for candidates who are at the beginning of their project and therefore still do not have a research design. It can also be useful for candidates who already completed their research design and like to have help with reflecting and elaborating on its quality and coherence.

• Session 1:
  Specifying your research aim and research design
  • Tips and tricks to specify your research aim in such detail that it will steer you in the design of your project, and for specifying a research design and a sample that are consistent with this research aim.
  • Preparation: A description of these tips and tricks will be provided. Using these tips and tricks, you specify your research aim, and a research design and a sample that are consistent with this research aim. You will receive feedback in class.

• Session 2:
  Specifying data collection methods and methods of analysis
  • Tips and tricks for specifying data collection methods and a method of data analysis that are consistent with your research aim and your research design.
  • Preparation: A description of these tips and tricks will be provided. You specify your data collection methods and a method of data analysis, using these tips and tricks. You will receive feedback in class.
     
• Session 3 and 4:
  Project consultation 
• Preparation: Describe current issues or dilemmas in your research project and/or issues discussed in class that need clarification.