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GKMV250105 ECTSQ2EnglishMaster

Research Design in Conflict Studies

FaculteitFaculty of Humanities
NiveauMaster
Studiejaar2026-2027

Beschrijving

Course goals

Upon successful completion of this course, you will have acquired the theoretical and practical competencies required to prepare, independently and effectively, a research project in conflict studies, and more specifically:
  1. understand the different elements of the research process in conflict studies
  2. assess the suitability of a research strategy for addressing specific research problems
  3. situate a research project in an empirical context and a field of research through a literature review
  4. convert pertinent research ideas into feasible research questions
  5. situate the research project within relevant theoretical debates and foster a dialogue between evidence and ideas
  6. demonstrate knowledge of how a wide range of methods can be integrated into the research process

Content

Designing a research project ultimately comes down to making choices related to how we understand, produce, and disseminate knowledge. This course provides you with a critical understanding and the practical skills required to make such choices when designing a research project. Every research project—such as the one you will conduct in the second semester to produce a Master’s thesis— begins with a review of existing knowledge about a chosen subject to avoid re-inventing the wheel, and to identify gaps where new knowledge can contribute to what is already known about your research topic. In this course, you will familiarise yourself with the literature in the field/theme that interests you. Every research project must also be built not only upon the foundation of existing knowledge, but also upon a carefully constructed 'plan' to ensure that the research that unfolds focuses on a significant research design, is theoretically and methodologically informed, and is based on evidence that is purposefully collected and systematically analysed.  By navigating these issues through scholarly conversations and practical/creative activities, this course will ultimately equip you with the skills required to prepare an academically sound literature review and a feasible research design.
 
This course is for students in the MA Conflict Studies and Human Rights; students from other MA programmes can only enrol with the consent of the programme coordinator.

Additional information

This course is for students in the MA Conflict Studies and Human Rights; students from other MA programmes can only enrol with the consent of the programme coordinator.

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