Research Design and Strategy

This course will introduce the students to the main steps of research design in social sciences, from the formulation of the research question until case selection and choice of methods. It explores how to identify the empirical phenomenon of interest, how to do a systematic literature review, what makes for a good research question, how to elaborate testable hypotheses and advance theory, and ways to justify the choice of cases and methods. The course will draw on relevant literature, provide concrete examples, and offer room for discussion throughout its various sessions. On course second day, there will be time reserved for students to present and discuss their own research.

Dates

The course will take place in person at the GIGA in Hamburg on 1st and 2nd November 2023, on the first day from 10am to 5pm and on the second day from 10am to 4pm.

About the lecturer  

Edalina Rodrigues Sanches is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal. Her research interests comprise democratization, popular protest, constituency service, political institutions, elections, political parties and party systems, with a focus on Africa.

Register here.