2023 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Methodologies in Politics, Law and Administration S1
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Shinji Kawana / Sanae Akaba
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Fri (W9-910) / 3-4 Fri (W9-327(W936))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.P461
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 1-2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
【１Q】
Understanding the methods in the fields of social science, political science, law and public administration.
Understanding basics of public survey and its research design, designing practical survey plan.
【２Q】
In this class, we will learn about research methods and ethics in social science. We will also discuss the problems of "knowledge and power" through topics such as culture, gender, sexuality, and race. We will also consider the importance of critical thinking towards the representation that we see in education, research, and society in general.
Course description and aims
【１Q】
About social science : discussing, understanding, expressing on recent public survey of social science. Students will be able to design research plan, make participants to understood the intention and improve the plan considering feedback by participants.
【２Q】
１. Learn about research methods in social science.
２. Understand the difficulty and the danger of describing others.
Keywords
【１Q】
case study, research design
【２Q】
Research ethics, research methods
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
【１Q】
students can study about the methodology of social science.
【２Q】
Short lecture, small and whole group discussion, research activities, and presentation sessions.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | introduction | none |
| Class 2 | epistemology | Understanding textbooks（in Japanese） |
| Class 3 | hypothesis, method, theory | Understanding textbooks（in Japanese） |
| Class 4 | explanation | Understanding textbooks（in Japanese） |
| Class 5 | induction, deduction, abduction | Understanding textbooks（in Japanese） |
| Class 6 | process tracing | Understanding textbooks（in Japanese） |
| Class 7 | case study | Understanding textbooks（in Japanese） |
| Class 8 | Research ethics, fieldwork | "Methods and Methodology in Social Research" Chapter 9 (in Japanese). |
| Class 9 | Ethnography (Participant observation) Critical race theory and intersectionality | "Methods and Methodology in Social Research" Chapter 6 (in Japanese). |
| Class 10 | Discourse analysis Gender, sexuality | "Methods and Methodology in Social Research" Chapter 8 (in Japanese). |
| Class 11 | Presentation on research activity (2) | Research activity (1) |
| Class 12 | Interview Critical race theory and intersectionality | 『社会科学の考え方』第5章 |
| Class 13 | Cross-sectional, longitudinal research Survey Ecological systems theory | "Methods and Methodology in Social Research" Chapter 4 & 7 (in Japanese) |
| Class 14 | Presentation on research activity (2) Summary | Research activity (2) |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
see Japanese
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Will be distributed as needed.
Evaluation methods and criteria
【1Q】
class discussion(40%) and presentation(40%).
【2Q】
Class discussion(20%), research activity (20%x2=40%), and report (40%)
Related courses
- SHS.P441 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration S1A
- SHS.P442 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration S1B
- SHS.P443 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration F1A
- SHS.P444 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration F1B
- SHS.P462 ： Graduate Methodologies in Politics, Law and Administration F1
Prerequisites
It is desirable to have certain knowledge about social science
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
shinji.kawana[at]ila.titech.ac.jp
sanae.akaba[at]ila.titech.ac.jp
Other
Be sure to prepare the textbooks.