This course aims to improve students’ ability to design feasible and theoretically sound empirical research projects to evaluate theoretical arguments empirically. The course will introduce a variety of research designs for international relations, but heavier emphasis will be placed on the commonly-used approaches such as regression analyses of observational data, experimental analyses, and qualitative case study approaches.

CILO-1: Evaluate the results of quantitative and qualitative empirical analyses published in leading academic journals in international relations and political science. CILO-2: Derive testable implications (= hypotheses, predictions) from theories of international relations and political science. CILO-3: Design empirical research using observational or experimental data to assess the validity of theoretical hypotheses. CILO-4: Carry out empirical research to evaluate the validity of theoretical claims and communicate the results effectively using visual or numerical methods.