Methodology of Social Sciences - JPB065

• Anglický název: Methodology of Social Sciences
• Zajišťuje: Katedra politologie (23-KP)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2025
• Semestr: zimní
• E-Kredity: 6
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:2/1, Zk [HT]
• Počet míst: 99 / 84 (80)
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Další informace: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x8Rm-qgaJhlmrUn3A70OdJJP-12hZNP2m4kwVk-Ums4/edit?usp=sharing
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu; při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
• Garant: Mgr. Lukáš Hájek, M.A., Ph.D.; Mgr. Tomáš Halamka, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: Bc. Matěj Felix Caba; Mgr. Jakub Čapek; Mgr. Michael Drašar; Mgr. Lukáš Hájek, M.A., Ph.D.; Mgr. Tomáš Halamka, Ph.D.; Mgr. Filip Žiljak
• Třída: Courses not for incoming students
• Neslučitelnost : JPB135, JPB150
• Je neslučitelnost pro: JPB150
• Ve slož. prerekvizitě: JPB049, JPB103, JPB284

Anotace

Science helps us to discover the truth about the world around us. To conduct proper scientific research, we must know how to employ specific methods. It does not apply only to heavy books or rigorous articles in impact journals. In academia, we also need to know proper techniques for writing homework, seminar or bachelor thesis. Therefore, it is necessary to inform students about the methodological aspects of social sciences.
This is an introductory course to the methodology of social sciences for PPE students. The course is divided into three blocks focusing on different topics: introduction to academic work, research design, and methods of political philosophy.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Cíl předmětu

After finishing the course, students will know university catalogues of sources and the differences between academic and non-academic work. They will also learn how to make references in agreement with various citation norms and avoid plagiarism. Next, the course will show students all phases of the political science research design together with quantitative and qualitative research methods. Finally, the students will also meet the basic methods of political philosophy. Last but not least, in seminars, students will practice most of the skills presented in lectures. 

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Podmínky zakončení předmětu

We strongly advise students to attend all the lectures. Nonetheless, the attendance is not mandatory, so students do not have to apologise for an absence.

The final grade will be composed of three parts:

1. Mini-tests (10%)
   • Six mini-tests will ask a few questions about the assigned readings. The tests will take place after even-numbered lectures, they will be open for a whole week, and students will have two hours to finish them. 
2. Seminars attendance (10%)
   • Attendance at five out of six seminars is mandatory. Students do not apologise for the single absence.
3. Homework (40%)
   • Brief literature review (20%)
     • In groups of 2 students, you compose a literature review on a selected topic.
     • The work will be assigned in the 3rd seminar with a deadline of three weeks after the assignment.
   • Brief research design (20%)
     • In groups of 2 students, you prepare a brief design of the research.
     • The work will be assigned in the 5th seminar with a deadline of three weeks after the assignment (prolonged because of the Christmas holiday).
   • Importantly, late submissions will be penalised by decreasing the initial grade by four percentage points for each commenced hour of late submission.
4. Final test (40 %)
   • Students will take the test via Moodle at school.

As you can see, group work is an essential part of the course. To explain this, it promotes cooperation, efficient problem-solving, and division of labour, which are crucial skills in the modern labour market. 

No retake of any part contributing to the final assessment is possible except the final test. Every student that starts to fulfil the course’s requirements will be graded at the end of the semester. The course uses the following grading scale of the Faculty of Social Sciences:

• 90.01–100.00% (A – excellent),
• 80.01–90.00% (B – very good),
• 70.01–80.00% (C – good),
• 60.01–70.00% (D – satisfactory),
• 50.01–60.00% (E – sufficient),
• 0.00–50.00% (F – fail).

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (30.09.2025)

Literatura

Mandatory readings are assigned within particular lectures and seminars. In the case of further interest, the following literature is recommended:

• Babbie, E. (2011). The Basics of Social Research. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
• Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press.
• Gerring, J., & Christenson, D. (2017). Applied Social Science Methodology: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press.
• Freeden, M. (2006). Ideologies and Political Theory: A Conceptual Approach. Oxford University Press.
• Rosling, H., Rosling O., & Rönnlund A. R. (2018). Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think. Flatiron Books.
• Skinner, Q. (2002). Visions of Politics I: Regarding Method. Cambridge University Press.
• Strauss, L. (1988). Persecution and the Art of Writing. The University of Chicago Press.
• Whatmore, R. (2015). What is Intellectual History? Polity Press.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Metody výuky

We will meet in person at 12 lectures once a week. Besides this, students attend seminars once a fortnight. Students with permission from the International Office can attend lectures online via MS Teams, and they should attend the online seminar group also via MS Teams. 

To share materials, we will use the electronic platform Moodle. Firstly, all required readings are available there. Teachers will also share additional interesting sources via Moodle (links, articles etc.). Secondly, teachers will use Moodle to assign mini-tasks and homework, and students will use the platform to upload their solutions. Last but not least, students will also take the final tests there. Registration to the course page in Moodle is therefore required for every enrolled student of the course. If there are any problems with signing in to the Moodle platform, do not hesitate and let the teachers know.

Students may use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Perplexity and similar, provided that the following conditions are met. Specifically, they may be used for the purposes of proofreading, text analysis, translations or searching for sources. On the contrary, the prohibition of use applies to the text creation. Any use must be cited in the final output in accordance with academic rules. Generative AI tools will not be used to evaluate student outputs. Any violation of these rules will lead to a reduction in grade, failure to complete the course or disciplinary proceedings, depending on its severity. Only compliance with the aforementioned rules will guarantee the fulfilment of the educational objectives of the course, protect equal conditions for all students, and also ensure their privacy. The aforementioned potential sanctions also apply to any plagiarism.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (17.09.2025)

Sylabus

Lectures

First Block – Introduction to Academic Work

1. Introduction, Methodology (October 1) [LH]

The course will be introduced, and the organisation of the semester will be presented. Besides this, teachers will explain the rationale and benefits of the course. Last, we will focus on explaining the term “methodology”.

Reading:

• Babbie, E. (2011). The Basics of Social Research. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Chapter 1 – Human Inquiry and Science.

2. Academic Work (October 8) [LH]

The lecture will introduce academic texts together with their key features and design. Furthermore, we will differentiate between various academic texts (books, articles, reviews etc.) and non-academic work. Last but not least, the principles of working with AI will be discussed.

Reading:

• Gerring, J., & Christenson, D. (2017). Applied Social Science Methodology: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 14 – Writing.
• Končelík, J. (2015). Dean’s Provision no. 18/2015. Quotations and Acknowledgement of the Sources: Measures Against Plagiarism. Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University. Retrieved from: https://fsv.cuni.cz/en/deans-provision-no-18/2015

3. Library Presentation (October 15) [LH]

The meeting will present the Jinonice library. Students will meet not only with the library but also with catalogues and e-resources. 

Reading:

• Gerring, J., & Christenson, D. (2017). Applied Social Science Methodology: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 11 – Reading and Reviewing.
• Materials and sources presented by the library.

4. Referencing (October 22) [LH]

The lecture will focus on referencing, an essential part of the academic work. Different citation and referencing styles will be presented together with practical examples. We will also focus on common mistakes in referencing. Besides this, the crucial issue of plagiarism will be discussed.

Reading:

• Gerring, J., & Christenson, D. (2017). Applied Social Science Methodology: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 2 – Arguments.
• Gerring, J., & Christenson, D. (2017). Applied Social Science Methodology: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 15 – Speaking.

Second Block – Research Design5. Topic, Research Question, Knowledge, and Hypotheses (October 29) [LH]

The lecture will open the theme of research design following the ideal research procedure. Therefore, the lecture will discuss the issues of identifying the topic and research question. Furthermore, we will focus on analysing the current state of knowledge and building hypotheses.

Reading:

• Gerring, J., & Christenson, D. (2017). Applied Social Science Methodology: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 12 – Brainstorming.
• Babbie, E. (2011). The Basics of Social Research. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Chapter 4 – Research Design.

6. Concepts and Measures (November 5) [LH]

The lecture will focus on the issue of concepts and their definitions. Besides this, we will deal with measuring the concepts. 

Reading:

• Babbie, E. (2011). The Basics of Social Research. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Chapter 5 – Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement.

7. Quantitative Methods (November 12) [LH]

The lecture will present shared patterns of quantitative methods of social research. Specific methods will be differentiated, and both pros and cons will be discussed.

Reading:

• Bryman, A. (2012) Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press. Chapter 7 – The Nature of Quantitative Research.

8. Qualitative Methods (November 19) [LH]

The lecture will present shared patterns of qualitative methods of social research. Specific methods will be differentiated, and both pros and cons will be discussed.

Reading:

• Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press. Chapter 17 – The Nature of Qualitative Research.

Third Block – Methods of Political Philosophy9. Introduction to Methods in Political Theory and History of Political Thought (November 26) [TH]

The first lecture of the block will introduce an overview of the debates on the interpretation of political texts and methods in political philosophy and the history of political thought. This introductory lecture will feature topics such as Hermeneutics, Marxism, Conceptual History (Begriffsgeschichte) or an idea of essentially contested concepts.

Reading:

• Whatmore, R. (2015). What Is Intellectual History? Polity Press. Chapter 2 – The History of Intellectual History.
• Bourke, R. (2016). The Cambridge School. Interview at The Centre for the Study of the History of Political Thought.

Optional video:

• Smith, S (2008). 1. Introduction: What is Political Philosophy? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/xhm55mIdSuk (00:00–12:15).

10. Textual Approaches and Idealism (December 3) [TH]

The lecture will concentrate on idealist or textual methods focusing primarily on Leo Strauss and his notions of philosophy between the lines, persecution and criticism of positivism in political science.

Reading:

• Strauss, L. (1988). Persecution and the Art of Writing. The University of Chicago Press. Chapter 1 – Introduction; Chapter 2 – Persecution and the Art of Writing.

11. The Cambridge School (December 10) [TH]

This lecture will be devoted to contextualist methods developed by The Cambridge School of intellectual history, focusing primarily on the work of its leading scholar Quentin Skinner.  

Reading:

• Skinner, Q. (2002). Visions of Politics I: Regarding Method. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 4 – Meaning and Understanding in the History of Ideas; Chapter 10 – Retrospect: Studying Rhetoric and Conceptual Change.

Optional video:

• Skinner, Q. (2014). Belief, Truth and Interpretation [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/VJYsTJt8vxg 

12. Morphological Approach to Ideologies (December 17) [TH]

The concluding lecture of the block will discuss Michael Freeden’s morphological approach to the study of ideologies.

Reading:

• Freeden, M. (2003) Ideology: A Very Short Introduction. Chapter 3 - Ideology at the crossroads of theory; Chapter 4 - The struggle over political language.

Optional audio:

• Freeden, M. (2011). Ideology Between Method and Meaning: The Gateway to the Political [Audio]. In The Politics of Interpretation and The Interpretation of Politics conference. https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/ideology-between-method-and-meaning-gateway-political 

Seminars

1. Searching (October 9) [MD, JČ, & FŽ]

The first seminar will focus on searching for sources and using scholarly databases or search engines.

2. Referencing and AI (October 23) [MD, JČ, & FŽ]

The seminar will show how referencing styles are used in practice, and students will meet the pros and cons of working with AI.

3. Literature Review (November 6) [MD, JČ, & FŽ]

The seminar will explain the importance of literature review for academic work and its genre rules.

4. Research Analysis (November 20) [MD, JČ, & FŽ]

The seminar will present how one research problem can be approached using different methodologies.

5. Research Design (December 4) [MD, JČ, & FŽ]

The seminar will provide a practical insight into research design and go through its partial elements.

6. Political Philosophy in Practice (December 18) [TH, MFC]

The last seminar will conclude the Political Philosophy part of the course by contrasting the idealist and the contextualist approach to political thought using the case study of the political thought of Niccolò Machiavelli.

Reading:

• Refresh the main ideas from The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Vstupní požadavky

The course is meant for first-year students in their very first semester.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)