General provisions

The course is offered during the fall semester. It can be a part of the Bachelors' programmes in Politics (politices kandidatprogrammet), Social Sciences (samhällsvetarprogrammet), and Peace and Development Studies (kandidatprogrammet i freds- och utvecklingsstudier). The course is also open for students following self-contained courses.

Entry requirements

Peace and Conflict Studies A and B or the equivalent

Learning outcomes

After the course, students are expected to be able to:

1. explain and discuss central questions and theories on causes, development and resolution of armed conflicts
2. connect specific research questions to the overall research agenda in peace and conflict research
3. critically analyse and evaluate different research arguments with the use of a systematic framework
4. design and evaluate basic research designs by relating theory, methods and empirical data in a coherent way
5. independently gather, evaluate and compare information and scientific texts on armed conflicts
6. actively and independently take part in seminar discussions, conduct short presentations as well as act as discussant and defend an independent study
7. independently conduct theoretically driven empirical studies with a comparative component
8. discuss and reflect on weaknesses and strengths of different methodological approaches as well as problems related to causal and statistical inference
9. conduct and interpret studies of both qualitative and quantitative nature
10. independently solve assignments within allocated time
11. adhere to the Department's Policy on Ethical Guidelines for Student Work

Content

The aim of the education is to enhance the students' skills and knowledge on theory and methods in peace and conflict research as well as further train the students' ability to independently conduct scientific studies. This includes to furthering the ability to connect specific research questions to the overall research agenda in peace and conflict.

The course consists of two modules.

Module 1. Theory and research methods (15 credits)

This course module focuses on theoretical approaches and research methods in peace and conflict research. Throughout the module, special emphasis is placed upon the connection between research questions, theory and empirics. The module covers fundamental concepts and techniques at each stage of the research process: specifying a research question, developing a theory, operationalising theoretical constructs, constructing a research design, collecting data, analysing data, reporting results and drawing conclusions. Emphasis is placed on practical skills relevant for writing a Bachelor's thesis. Students are taught different criteria with which to evaluate the validity of theories as well as techniques of how to structure, summarise and present positions and arguments of a research debate. The module offers training in both quantitative and qualitative methods for peace and conflict research. This includes training in how different research designs can be used for the same research puzzle, as well as training in how to interpret and critically assess empirical studies.

Module 2. Bachelor's thesis (15 credits)

The module consists of the conduct and defence of a Bachelor's thesis. The thesis should be written independently and the module also includes developing skills in critically appraising another Bachelor's thesis (in other words, act as discussant) as well as defending one's own thesis. Teaching is mainly done in small supervision groups.

Instruction

Teaching is done through lectures and seminars.

Assessment

Examination is conducted primarily through written assignments. The final module - Bachelor's thesis - is examined through a written independent thesis that is defended orally in a seminar as well as through being discussant on a fellow student's thesis.

Grades are Fail, Pass, and Pass with distinction. To acquire the grade Pass with distinction on the entire course, one needs to acquire Pass with distinction on the module "Bachelor's thesis".

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.