Научно-исследовательский семинар

Бакалавриат 2026/2027

Статус: Курс обязательный (Политология и мировая политика)

Кто читает: Департамент политологии и международных отношений

Где читается: Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук

Когда читается: 3-й курс, 2 модуль

Охват аудитории: для своего кампуса

Преподаватели: Шевцова Ирина Константиновна

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 1

Контактные часы: 10

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

The course is designed as a series of practical seminars aimed at preparing students for academic activities, related to their term papers, final theses, and academic research in general. During the courses students learn what research is, how to critically analyze academic literature, how to design research (using various methodological approaches), and how to write an academic paper. Moreover the course covers modern approaches and applications that help students fulfil their research tasks.

Learning Objectives

The main goal of this course is to introduce students to the basic steps of conducting and academic research.
As a subgoal the course aims at developing the skill of navigating, reading and understanding the research literature.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Aggregates data using Python.
Applies Python language for data processing.
finds, defines and uses the information from different sources which required for solving of research and professional problems (including the system approach)
retrieves, collects, processes and analyzes information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field.
outlines the need for resources and plan its using for solving professional problems
chooses research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks.
executes applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes: by using political science methods and in support of practical decision making process.
forms a research design in social sciences, with all its elements and with all its parts, by looking into specific examples
knows what kind of research questions can be formulated and what kind of research problems there are
Applies the techniques of bibliometric analysis and interprets their results
Describes formal requirements for the term papers
Describes the main peculiarities and functions of a literature review
Uses relevant data sources and search techniques to find literature for review
Uses relevant techniques to summarize and systematize scientific information
Conducts a literature review taking into account the norms of academic integrity
Uses appropriate standards of academic writing when conducting a literature review
Describes the role of academic research in Political Science
Describes the main parts of academic research and their role
Describes the main characteristics of a political science researcher
Detects and avoids plagiarism and academic integrity violations
Uses methods and applications of citation management

Course Contents

DG1. Introductory session
DG1. Introductory session. What is research?
DG3. Who is a political science researcher?
DG2. How to read a research paper
DG4. Working in a library. Working with electronic resources
DG6. Academic integrity
DG5. Plagiarism
DG7. Citation management
DG8. What is literature review?
DG10. Workshop
DG-1 (Second Year). Introduction to Literature Reviews
DG-2 (Second Year). Searching for Literature.
DG-3 (Second year). Science Maps and Bibliometric Analysis
DG-4 (Second Year). Literature Selection. Abstracts.
DG-5 (Second Year). Heuristics and Tips for Literature Review
DG-6 (Second Year). Citation and Plagiarism
DG-7 (Second Year). Academic Writing.
DG-11 (2nd Year) Python Workshop
DG-12 (2nd year). Data Analysis Workshop
DG-1 (3rd year) How to prepare a literature review?
DG-2 (3rd year) Positivist research and theory building
DG-3 (3rd year) Interpretive research and theory building
DG-4 (3rd year) Case-selection and sample design
DG-5 (3rd year) How can we combine research methods?
DG-6 (3rd year)
DG-7 (3rd year)
DG-8 (3rd year)
DG-9 (3rd year)
DG-10 (3rd year)
DG1 (4th year)
DG2 (4th year). Particularities and Constraints of Social Sciences
DG-3 (4th year). Guidelines for a Good Research Design
DG-4 (4th year). Research Strategies, Methodologies and Methods

Assessment Elements

In-class Tests
In-class tests represent a set of quizzes taking place at the beginning of some seminars. Each test includes from 1 to 5 open and multiple-choice questions. There is a 10-scale grade for each test. For each correct answer a student gets from 1 to 4 points depending on the question. The final grade for this assignment represents a mean value of all test results.
Interim Assignment
This assignment is designed to check both skills of using Zotero and identification of research questions. At certain point srudents have to divide in groups of 2-3 people and choose a topic. Then the topic have to be approved by the instructor. After that students will have to make list of 20 bibliographic references of books and academic papers in Chicago author-date style (this one: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html ) made in Zotero on the approved topic. The document also have to include a research question. Requirements: 1. Division into teams until DG5 Approval of the topic with the instructor until DG7 Deadline of submission: DG 10, before class Each day of overdue will result in subtraction of 1 point from the grade for this task 2. Requisites: a. amount of sources: 20 sources, at least 75% in English language b. types of sources: books and academic papers c. correspondence of sources to the topic of the Literature Review
Final Assignment
This test consists of two parts. The first part is a quiz with multiple-choice questions where each question has only one correct answer. The second consists of a set of open questions where students have to show that they have a profound knowledge of the matter. All questions are based on the mandatory readings and seminar discussions. The test lasts 1 hour 20 min. For each correct answer, a student gets 1 to 3 points depending on the question. Total sum of the points that a student has got for the test is converted into percentages (100% are given when all the answers are correct). To grade the test, the following scale for converting percentages into grades is used: 10: 100,00 – 95,00 % 9: 94,99 – 90,00 % 8: 89,99 – 85,00 % 7: 84,99 – 75,00 % 6: 74,99 – 70,00 % 5: 69,99 – 60,00 % 4: 59,99 – 50,00 % 3: 49,99 – 45,00 % 2: 44,99 – 35,00 % 1: 34,99 – 10,00 % 0: 10,00 – 00,00 %
Class Assignments
The classes feature assignments that are graded. These assignments are to be submitted at the end of the class.
Home Assignment
After some classes students are expected to fulfill and submit a written home assignment. The use of AI is strictily prohibited and may result in the grade of 0.
Examination
During the exam, students are to write a literature review based on the provided materials (abstracts). The exam is written. It can be conducted in SmartLMS or in a paper-based format. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes. During the exam, students are not allowed to use any additional materials, including dictionaries or translators. The volume of the literature review should be within 4000 - 5000 symbols (with spaces).
Class participation
Practice
Home Assignment
After some classes students are expected to fulfill and submit a written home assignment. Assignments are to be submitted within 7 calendar days from the date of the seminar.
Research Proposal (4th year)
This is an individual written assignment and the main outcome of the research seminar. Students are expected to describe the research design of their future bachelor theses. The expected volume of the paper is 1500 words (+/- 10%).
In-Class Participation
The lecturer evalutes students' participation at the seminars.
In-class participation
The lecturer evaluates students' participation at the seminars. The grade for this component is the average of all seminars attended.
Literature review
This task is a small literature review (~500 words) on the topic of your term paper. If you are not yet sure what will be your term paper topic, please feel free to choose any other topic you are proficient at. In your submission please do the following: present ‘blocks’ of literature that exist in your research field (classified on, for example: chronology, prioritized topics and subtopics, different epistemological or methodological approaches, different explanations for the same phenomena, etc.);formulate sources of academic relevance that are possible in this research field, based on this classification (research gaps/puzzles, academic debates, insufficient explanations, etc.); explain (very briefly, in a couple of sentences) what your research is going to do, and demonstrate how it can make a contribution to the research field and improve our understanding of the topic(which research gaps will be addressed, which debates will be resolved, etc.). It is not necessary to give a detailed overview of every included article; very broad generalizations are allowed for this task. In-text citations may be used but the list of references is expected. Please include at least 10 different sources. The use of the artificial intelligence is strictly prohibited
Interim test
During the academic period, an interim test is conducted with questions on the literature proposed for the seminars. Any type of assistance including books, notes and any type of AI programs are strictly prohibited
Research theory building
This task is a small note (~500 words) about theory or theories that will be used in your term paper. If you are not yet sure what will be your term paper topic, please feel free to choose any other topic you are proficient at. In your submission please do the following: 1) name and briefly explain the key theories that will be used in your term paper; 2) explain what function do these theories serve in your term paper (are you planning to: confirm or disprove a causal theory based on some new data? develop a sub-theory for edge cases? 3) create a conceptual framework for interpretation of your data 4) use a theory to justify a selection of perspective or approach; 5) formulate (if applicable) expectations or hypotheses for your research, based on the theory; 6) hypothesize on how these theories will shape your research in a practical sense (how your data gathering, analysis, and interpretation will be shaped by the need to conform to the theoretical framework, what limitations might occur, etc.). In-text citations may be used but the list of references is expected. Please include key sources of your theories (can be as low as one, if it is a well-known and important paper). The use of the artificial intelligence is strictly prohibited

Interim Assessment

2024/2025 4th module
0.35 * In-class Tests + 0.3 * Final Assignment + 0.35 * Interim Assignment
2025/2026 2nd module
0.25 * Home Assignment + 0.6 * Examination + 0.15 * Class Assignments
2025/2026 4th module
0.25 * Practice + 0.25 * Class participation
2026/2027 2nd module
In-Class Participation * 0.250 + Literature review * 0.250 + Interim test * 0.250 + Research theory building *0.250
2027/2028 2nd module
0.25 * Home Assignment + 0.2 * In-Class Participation + 0.55 * Research Proposal (4th year)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Political Science, Hans Keman, Jaap J. Woldendorp, publication Date: 30 Dec 2016, eISBN: 9781784710828

Recommended Additional Bibliography

George Thomas, Colin Elman, Miriam Fendius Elman, Boundaries Historians, Political Scientists, & The Study Of. (n.d.). The Qualitative Foundations of Political Science Methodology.
Knopf, J. W. (2006). Doing a Literature Review. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.6DDBE740
van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2009). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.F4F49079

Authors

BORISENKO MAKSIM SERGEEVICH
Shevtsova Irina Konstantinovna
Kabanov Iurii Andreevich
BARYKIN IAROSLAV ANDREEVICH

Course Syllabus