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PPIR syllabus summer 2022-2023.pdf | Syllabus Summer Semester 2023 | doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. |
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (20.01.2022)
- it is designed for active students who enjoy interactive teaching methods, in-class debates, weekly tasks, and challenging term projects - admittedly, the course is quite demanding for B.A. level and most of the coursework takes place during the semester rather than in the exam period |
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (24.01.2023)
When we talk about international politics, we often tend to talk about “states” as if they were living beings. However, all the decisions to launch wars, sign trade agreements, or build new alliances are ultimately made by actual human individuals from flesh and blood. And, like all individuals, even these high-level decision-makers are prone to cognitive biases and misperceptions; they have feelings and emotions and often care about justice and fairness as much as they calculate material costs and gains; they are susceptible to the way issues are framed and often make decisions that are supposedly against “rational” thinking. In this course, we will draw on concepts from behavioral, social, and moral psychology to study how all these phenomena work and how they influence international relations in our times. In all my courses, including this one, we observe a strict no-laptop / no-tablet / no-phone policy; in other words, the students and lecturers are not allowed to use electronic devices during class. Please note that the motivation for this rule is not to discipline the students or to make it harder for you in any way – on the contrary. Using laptops for notetaking during class has, according to the latest studies in neuroscience and pedagogics, very high cognitive costs; it is a constant distraction for your brain, which is unable to focus on the lecture itself fully. This ‘no electronic devices’ policy has been tested at many renowned universities abroad and the results are extremely positive. I encourage you to simply listen to the lectures, pose questions whenever something is unclear or worth further elaboration, actively engage in the in-class debates, and just make a short note on paper when you feel it is something you would like to follow up on at home. Moodle page with all the assignments and other course materials is available here: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=11574 |
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (14.01.2021)
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (24.01.2023)
The exam part of this course will be slightly different than you are used to. We will set up a debate among 3 to 4 students, in which you will discuss ideas, theories, and concepts from political psychology and apply them in a contemporary setting of world politics. The point is not to “win” the debate and “defeat” your opponent but to demonstrate your ability to use what you have learned during the course actively. We will set available dates for these debates towards the end of the semester. In addition, you will carry out a special research project and present the results in one of the last two classes of the semester. At the beginning of the course, you will choose one of the four types of term projects that you will be working on this semester. You will be able to (1) design your survey experiment, in which you will be collecting, analyzing, and visualizing your original data; or (2) conduct and record a simulation game, where you will be examining the mechanisms behind individual players’ decision-making; or (3) record your video podcast where you will interview an expert in the field; or (4) replicate some earlier experiment and produce a science video for the broader public. We will propose some specific topics in Moodle that you will sign up for, but you can also submit your own topic, and we will be happy to consider it. From the start of the course, you will be required to consult your term project regularly with us through a dedicated Moodle forum. By March 1, you must select which of the four types of term project you prefer and whether you want to work on the project individually or as a group. By March 21, you should have the topic and some basic plan for your special term project approved by us. The deadline for submitting the final project to us is May 1. Finally, May 2 and 9 will be dedicated to the PPIR Students’ Conference, where you will present the results of your project and discuss them with the rest of the class. |
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (20.01.2022)
After each class, we will often ask you to follow up on what we’ve learned and read a scholarly article that will elaborate on the problem in more detail. There is a good evidence that from a learning perspective, this approach works much better than the traditional “read first-attend the lecture later” approach. Readings for each class will be available for you in the Moodle. After you read the article(s), you will have time until Monday on the following week to provide us with a brief reflection (min. 250 words) on the reading in a Moodle forum for the given class – we will usually give you with a small task, such as trying to apply the ideas from the reading in a new context. Do not repeat what the article is about – give us your own perspective and answer what we ask you about. Note that in order to pass the course, you need to read all the assigned readings and do all the tasks, and that there are penalties for late deliveries (-0.5 points for each day). |
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (24.01.2023)
Most classes in this course represent a lecture-seminar hybrid; while we will try to share with you some basic overview of the current developments in the field and relevant academic concepts and theories, your own input and ideas are critically important for a joint learning process. Attendance and active participation are compulsory, with up to three abstentions allowed (for whatever reason – no prior excuse is needed). Before each class, we will ask you for a brief preparation, often filling in some online survey or other simple task. All assignments are always available in Moodle. |
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (20.01.2022)
EVALUATION
After-class reflections: 25 points, -0.5 points for each day of delayed delivery Term project: 30 points, -2 points for each day of delayed delivery Exam: 25 points In-class activity: 20 points
* note that in each of these four segments (reflections, term project, exam, activity), you need to score min. 50% in order to pass the course.
100-91 points: A 90-81 points: B 80-71 points: C 70-61 points: D 60-51 points: E 50-0 points: F |
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Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D. (24.01.2023)
Week 1 (Feb 14): Introduction: Human Brain and International Relations Week 2 (Feb 21): Cognitive Biases in World Politics Week 3 (Feb 28): Framing Effects and the Prospect Theory Week 4 (Mar 7): Justice and Fairness in International Politics Week 5 (Mar 14): Survey Experiments in Political Psychology (workshop session w/ Marek Vranka) Week 6 (Mar 21): Leadership Styles and Elite Traits Week 7 (Mar 28): Bottom-up and Top-down Models of Foreign Policy Attitudes Week 8 (Apr 4): Moral Foundations of Foreign Policy Attitudes Week 9 (Apr 11): Deviance, Stigma, and Ontological (In)security Week 10 (Apr 18): Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation Week 11 (Apr 25): Hybrid Warfare and Affective Sticking Points (guest lecture by Jakub Eberle & Jan Daniel) Week 12 (May 2): PPIR Students’ Conference (Session I) Week 13 (May 9): PPIR Students’ Conference (Session II) * Note that the schedule is subject to change during the semester. Follow the Moodle page for regular updates. Before each class: check Moodle and do the assigned small task During each class: listen, ask, discuss, challenge us, and think; up to three absences are allowed; we observe a ‘no-electronic-devices’ policy After each class: do the assigned task by Monday of the following week; you must do all the tasks during the semester and not be delayed more than three times By March 1: let us know whether you want to conduct your term project individually or in a group By March 21: have the topic and the preliminary plan of work approved by us By May 1: submit the final outcome of your term project On May 2 and 9: present and discuss the results of your term project with others in the class In May and June: sign up for an exam session |