Please note: This course will be taught in hybrid mode. Hybrid delivery of courses will include synchronous live sessions during which on campus and online students will be taught simultaneously.
Allyson Benton is a Reader in the Department of Government at the University of Essex. Allyson’s research lies within the field of political economy and has been published in a variety of academic journals. She is currently examining the impact of politics (most recently, politicians’ career ambition) on subnational fiscal policy as well as the impact of politics (most recently, political speech) on financial markets. Her previous research also included the origins and operation of subnational authoritarian regimes in Latin America. Allyson’s research has been enriched by her long time working as a Latin American political risk analyst in the private sector, as well as researching, living, and working in that region.
Course Content
This course introduces you to the fundamental principles of social science research design. Beyond learning theory, you will develop practical skills for designing feasible research projects that can be completed within realistic time constraints, whether that is a dissertation chapter or an article manuscript. The course is organized around two core themes: building your theoretical framework (Week 1) and building your empirical strategy (Week 2). We conclude by addressing essential professional skills like preparing replication materials, navigating journal reviews, responding to feedback, and preparing your manuscript for submission.
Course Description
This course is your practical toolkit for turning research ideas into reality. Whether you are crafting a PhD proposal, revising your dissertation, or preparing a manuscript for publication, you will learn how to design and execute research projects that are both ambitious and achievable.
The course unfolds over two intensive weeks:
- Week 1: Project Design — Master the principles of social scientific research design. Learn to engage with literature to frame your work, craft compelling arguments supported by current theory, and develop testable hypotheses of those arguments which can be examined empirically. The goal is to learn how to frame your research to demonstrate its linkage with but also its original contribution to your field.
- Week 2: Empirical Strategy — Master strategies for turning your hypotheses into hands-on empirical data and analysis. Navigate the practicalities of measuring variables, finding and storing data, and choosing appropriate analytical methods. The goal is to learn how to make convincing empirical and methodological choices and to write about them convincingly.
Throughout the course, you will engage with real examples, work through practical challenges, and develop strategies you can immediately apply to your own research. We will also tackle often-overlooked skills of integrating and responding to feedback, ensuring the replicability of your research, and managing the publication process.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Design research projects that are feasible within realistic time constraints — whether that is a dissertation chapter or a journal manuscript
- Demonstrate the scholarly value of your work by situating it within existing debates and showing how it advances knowledge
- Navigate the full research process from initial concept through data collection, analysis, and write-up
- Make and justify methodological choices that supervisors, reviewers, and readers will find convincing
- Respond professionally to feedback and criticism — a crucial skill for navigating peer review and developing your work
Course Prerequisites
This is an introductory course designed for researchers at different stages of their journey. You might be:
- A prospective PhD student developing your research proposal
- An early-stage PhD researcher refining your research project design
- A current PhD student turning dissertation chapters into publishable articles
- A researcher at any stage looking to strengthen your grasp of research design
While you do not need prior expertise in research design, you should come ready to engage with research, argumentation, and empirical analysis. Regardless of whether you plan to use quantitative or qualitative method, you will find this course valuable.
Optional Background Reading (these texts will be provided by ESS)
- Gerring, John, and Dino Christenson. Applied Social Science Methodology: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. doi:10.1017/9781107775558.
- Kellstedt, Paul M., and Guy D. Whitten. The Fundamentals of Political Science Research. 3rd ed.
Week 1: Designing Your Theoretical Framework
Day 1: Framing Your Research Question
How do you transform a broad research interest into a focused, feasible question? We will explore strategies for translating research topics into concrete questions, situating your question within the existing literature, structuring your manuscript’s introduction and literature review to build toward your contribution.
- Translating research topics into feasible research questions
- Positioning your question within scholarly debates
- Organizing your manuscript’s introduction and literature review
Day 2: Making Your Argument
Every compelling research project centers on a clear argument. Learn to identify and define your dependent (outcome) and independent (explanatory) variables, explain the causal mechanism that links them, and structure your argument section to communicate your logic persuasively.
- Identifying and defining your main variables (dependent and independent)
- Explaining the causal mechanism that connects them
- Organizing and drafting your argument section
Day 3: Identifying Testable Hypotheses
How do you move from theoretical argument to empirical test? We will work through identifying testable hypotheses that follow from your argument, selecting among alternative hypotheses, and strategically placing them in your manuscript to guide readers through your empirical analysis.
- Deriving testable hypotheses from your argument
- Selecting among multiple possible hypotheses
- Positioning hypotheses strategically in your manuscript
Day 4: Discussing Alternative Arguments
Strong research anticipates and engages with alternative explanations. Learn when and how to identify competing accounts, address contradictory arguments, and discuss the null hypothesis, as well as where these discussions belong in your manuscript structure.
- Identifying alternative and contradictory explanations
- Engaging with the null hypothesis
- Placing these discussions effectively in your manuscript
Day 5: Defining Concepts and Measures
Clear conceptualization is the bridge between theory and measurement. We’ll explore how to define your key concepts rigorously, operationalize them into measurable (observable) variables (indicators), and justify your measurement choices to skeptical readers and reviewers.
- Defining and operationalizing key concepts
- Moving from concepts to measures
- Justifying your measurement decisions
Week 2: Implementing Your Empirical Strategy
Day 6: Selecting Cases and Observations
Who or what should you study? Learn strategies for selecting cases and sampling observations that align with your research question and allow you to test your hypotheses effectively. We will address how to justify these choices and anticipate reviewer concerns about generalizability.
- Strategies for case selection
- Sampling approaches and their tradeoffs
- Addressing generalizability and scope conditions
Day 7: Collecting and Managing Data
Good data does not just appear; it requires careful planning and execution. We will discuss finding existing data sources, collecting original data through surveys or other methods, and managing your data in ways that support both your analysis and future replication.
- Finding and accessing existing data sources
- Collecting original data (surveys, interviews, experiments)
- Data management and documentation best practices
Day 8: Choosing Your Analytical Method
Which analytical approach is right for your project? Learn to match methods to your research question and data structure, understand the assumptions underlying different techniques, and write about your methodological choices in ways that build reader confidence.
- Matching analytical methods to research questions
- Understanding methodological assumptions and requirements
- Writing convincingly about your methodological choices
Day 9: Presenting and Interpreting Results
Your analysis is only as good as your ability to communicate it. We will explore how to present results clearly through tables and figures, interpret findings for both technical and general audiences, and connect empirical results back to your theoretical argument.
- Creating effective tables and visualizations
- Interpreting results for different audiences
- Linking empirical findings to theoretical claims
Day 10: Professional Skills for Publication
Research does not end with analysis; it ends with successful publication and dissemination. Learn practical skills for the publication process: preparing replication materials, navigating journal review, responding professionally to feedback, and managing revisions and resubmissions.
- Applying for research funding and support
- Preparing replication materials and documentation
- Understanding the journal review process
- Responding to reviewer feedback constructively
- Managing manuscript revisions and resubmission
