PECOS4025 – Analytic perspectives on peace and conflict

This class examines the fundamental principles of research methods and design in Political Science, as applied to the field of peace and conflict research. It prepares students to design and conduct an independent research paper of their own.

This class also equips students to assess the validity and reliability of published research in Political Science and to reflect on ethical challenges pertaining to research in the field of peace and conflict.

Knowledge

Students will learn to:

• apply the fundamental principles of research design and methods in Political Science;
• assess the validity of research design and findings;
• discuss ethical challenges in peace and conflict research.

Skills

Students will develop the ability to:

• identify and discuss different strategies for inference in political science research;
• distinguish between different kinds of research questions and strategies for inference;
• identify and tackle issues of bias in Political Science research;
• design and implement a research design in the field of peace and conflict studies.

Competencies

Students will be able to:

• create and improve a research design suited to answer their research question;
• think systematically about measurement, inferences, and explanation in political Science research;
• engage in constructive assessment of research design choices and strategies for inference, especially in issue areas with limited or biased data;
• provide constructive feedback on research design to others and how to integrate such feedback into their own project.

The course is reserved for students enrolled in the master programme Peace and Conflict Studies.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Lectures and seminars

Compulsory activity:

• Attend three of five seminars

In the event of illness or other valid reasons, you can apply for a valid absence or postponement of compulsory activity.

Apply for valid absence from or need for postponement of compulsory activity

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination