COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 201	A	3	2	2	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Jubjana Vila jvila@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Jubjana Vila jvila@epoka.edu.al , Monday 9:30-11:30
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	Thursday 09:40-13:30
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	75%
Course Description:	-
Course Objectives:	This course covers the foundations of scientific research in social sciences. It aims to introduce students to concepts, research process and methodologies in social sciences. Its objective is to enable students to read, understand and critically asses scientific research and get prepared to write individual research proposals in political science and international relations area.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Scientific Research
2	Research Question
3	Research Design
4	Research Methods
5	Literature review
6	Theory
7	Data Collection
8	Data Analysis
9	Qualitative Research
10	Quantitative Research

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Social Research
2	Concepts and Logic of Social Research - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 1-24. Introduces the foundations of social research, emphasizing key concepts, assumptions, and the logic behind systematic inquiry. Students explore how research questions are framed and linked to social realities.
3	Preparing for the Research: Structure and Literature review - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 125-164. Covers the process of designing a research study, including identifying problems and conducting a literature review. Focuses on how existing scholarship informs new research.
4	Major Types of Social Research - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 25-54. Examines different forms of social research, from exploratory to explanatory and descriptive designs. Students learn how to choose approaches suited to specific questions.
5	Theory and Research - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 55-90. Explores the relationship between theory and empirical research. Students learn how theories guide research and how findings can refine or challenge theoretical frameworks.
6	Meanings of Methodology - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 91-124. Introduces methodological debates and perspectives in social science. Emphasizes why methodology is more than just methods—it is about how knowledge is created and justified.
7	Midterm Exam
8	Qualitative Research Designs - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 165-201. Focuses on qualitative approaches such as interviews, observations, and case studies. Students examine how these methods capture meaning, context, and lived experience.
9	Quantitative Research Designs - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 165-201. Presents quantitative strategies such as surveys and experiments. Emphasizes measurement, sampling, and the importance of statistical generalization.
10	Data Collection - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 201-245; 477-512. Examines tools and techniques for gathering both qualitative and quantitative data. Students critically assess issues of reliability, validity, and ethics in data collection.
11	Data Analysis - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 393-430; 477-512. Introduces strategies for analyzing data, including coding for qualitative research and statistical techniques for quantitative research. Focus is on drawing meaningful insights from evidence.
12	Concluding the Research Report - Must readings: Neuman: pages: 513-544. Covers how to organize and present research findings in written form. Students learn how to write conclusions, acknowledge limitations, and suggest future research directions.
13	Final Seminar on Research Projects. An interactive session where students present and discuss their project progress. Feedback is provided to refine final outputs.
14	Research Project Presentations (Students)

Prerequisite(s):	No
Textbook(s):	Neuman, W. Laurence. 2020. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 8th ed. Pearson. David E McNabb. 2010. Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods. 2nd ed. Routledge: New York.
Additional Literature:	Burnham, P. 2008. Research Methods in Politics. Palgrave Macmillan: New York. Walliman N. 2011. Research Methods: The Basics. Routledge: New York. Students are advised to search for materials that are appropriate for their research area.
Laboratory Work:	No
Computer Usage:	Students are introduced to basic SPSS
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Define concepts and methods of research in social science
2	Explain and compare research designs in social sciences
3	Conduct literature review in political science and international relations topics
4	Conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
5	Write a research proposal in political science and international relations topics

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	3
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	4
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	4
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	3
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	3
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	5
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	5
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Presentation	1	10
Project	1	30
Case Study	2	10
Final Exam	1	40
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	4	64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	13	2	26
Mid-terms	1	13	13
Assignments	2	3	6
Final examination	1	16	16
Other	0	0	0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER