https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/S_PMPSRThe aim of this course is that students further develop their research and academic writing skills, so as to be fully prepared for the Master Political Science. Learning objectives: Knowledge and understanding – The student has acquired knowledge and understanding of: (1) up-to-date political science literature on the topic chosen Skills – The student is able to: (2) identify and interpret relevant academic literature on a specific topic; (3) justify the choice for a suitable research design and method for the intended research; (4) collect, analyze, and interpret relevant data; (5) build a scientific argument (a thesis); (6) explain and present their research to a broader audience. Attitude – The student displays: (7) intellectual integrity and the willingness to be self-critical regarding their own written work.During the course pre-Master Political Science Research (S_PMPSR), students are guided to further develop their research skills as well as their academic writing skills by writing a research paper in which they (1) identify a relevant academic puzzle within the field of political science; (2) formulate a substantive theoretical framework; (3) create an substantiate the choice of an appropriate research design through which the puzzle can be adequately studied, and (4) execute an empirical analysis in a process akin to the thesis they will write at the end of their Master’s. The main objective of the course is to build on lessons learned during the Methods courses that Pre-Master students followed in the previous periods, improve that knowledge and deliver a well designed research paper. The students will be guided and supervised throughout this process by a qualified teacher. Students will work towards their final product (group research paper) in different phases by writing parts of the final product for the seminars. Group cooperation and discussion is central to the seminars, which requires significant preparation on behalf of the students. Students are also expected to present their research design and (preliminary) results to their peers.Tutorials and individual supervisory meetings to monitor students' progress.Intermediate assignments (complete/not completed), presentation (pass/fail) and a group research paper (100%). Submission of intermediate assignments and a pass for the presentation are conditional to pass for this course.To be announced in the course manual (see CANVAS).Students in the Premaster Political ScienceSuccessful completion of prior courses in the premaster.