GS2321: Seminar 2

The following instructions are posted on GUL, https://gul.gu.se/public/courseId/41279/lang-sv/publicShowMessage.do?id=456149:

Purpose of Seminar 2:
The main purpose of the seminar is to assess and compare the research design of two different studies: one qualitative and one quantitative.

Individual preparation for the seminar:
Each student shall read both the papers uploaded at GUL (entitled seminar paper 1, and seminar paper 2). Each student should write a short report, comparing the two papers, based on the following questions (you don’t have to cover all questions, but can focus on those which you find useful in your comparison):
1. Please describe, according to your own understanding, the epistemology of the paper.
2. Is the research question/s well formulated and motivated? Why/why not? Is the research question answered during the course of paper? How?
3. Which are the case/cases of the study? How are they selected? Is the selection clear and well motivated?
3. How is theory used in the paper (in relation to the research problem/research question/s? In the analysis? In the form of a theoretical framework?). In what way/s, if any, does theory add to the quality of the paper?
4. Is the choice and implementation of the research method/s well formulated and motivated? How/why not?
5. How are the conclusions of the paper drawn? Do you agree with the conclusions? Are the conclusions firmly based on the empirical data presented in the thesis? What about the generalizability of the results?
6. Is this a thesis of high quality? Why/why not? (e.g. according to which criteria is the thesis good/not so good?)

If you participate actively in the seminar (e.g. contributing to the seminar discussions based on your individual preparation), you don’t have to submit your written report. However, if you fail to participate actively (being at the seminar unprepared or being absent from the seminar) you are requested to submit a written report of 2 – 4 pages (12p Times New Roman, 1,5 line spacing) to Per Knutsson (per.knutsson@globalstudies.gu.se).

Organization of the seminar:
There will be 8 seminar groups of which 4 meet 10 – 12 and 4 meet 13 – 15 (please refer to GUL to see which seminar group you should participate in and the course guide or schedule for information on which group room you should be in. The discussions of each seminar group will be lead by a seminar leader (a PhD-student or a lecturer).

GOOD LUCK!