2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Technology and Innovation Management Graduate major in Technology and Innovation Management
Methodology of Political Science and Economics I
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Technology and Innovation Management
- Instructor(s)
- Masako Ikegami
- Class Format
- Lecture/Exercise (HyFlex)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 11-12 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- TIM.A403
- Number of credits
- 0.50.50
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The course will deal with basic methods for formulating a research project, planning and implementing a scientific study in political sciences, mainly for qualitative case studies.
Course description and aims
By the end of the course the students are expected to be able to:
• present a relevant research project
• plan and implement a scientific study
• express themselves clearly in accordance with scientific practice
• apply social science methods for qualitative analysis
• analyze empirical data
• critically review a scientific study, with a focus on qualitative case analysis of decision-making and policy concerning research & development (R&D)
Keywords
methodology of social sciences, qualitative analysis, case studies, policy analysis of R&D and science & technology (S&T)
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course consists of lectures on qualitative methods and seminars on case studies of decision-making/policy analysis in the field of S&T and R&D.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | Introduction |
| Class 2 | Qualitative case analysis I Alexander L. George and Andrew Bennett, Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences, MIT Press, 2005 | Qualitative case analysis I Alexander L. George and Andrew Bennett, Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences, MIT Press, 2005 |
| Class 3 | Qualitative case analysis II | Qualitative case analysis II |
| Class 4 | Qualitative case analysis II | Qualitative case analysis II |
| Class 5 | Reexamining the contemporary social science framework Synergy of qualitative and quantitative methods | Reexamining the contemporary social science framework; Synergy of qualitative and quantitative methods |
| Class 6 | Guest Lecture: Risk and Crisis analysis （TBA) | Guest Lecture: Risk and Crisis analysis （TBA) |
| Class 7 | Summary and discussion | Oral presentation of group works, Summary and discussion |
| Class 8 | Back-up | Back-up |
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)
* Alexander L. George and Andrew Bennett, Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences, MIT Press, 2005
* Sumantra Ghoshal (2005) “Bad management theories are destroying good management practices”, Academy of Management Learning & Education, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 75-91
* Ghoshal & Moran (1996) “Bad for practice: a critique of the transaction cost theory”, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 13-47
Social Research Methods (4th Edition) by Alan Bryman (2012, Oxford University Press),
Bryman & Bell, Business Research Methods 3rd ed. (2011, Oxford University Press)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Supplementary articles and book chapters may be included as hand-outs
Evaluation methods and criteria
This course consists of obligatory lectures and seminars. Each student is required to read the assigned readings and come prepared to discuss them. Active participation, oral presentation and essay work are required to pass the course. Basic knowledge of international politics is preferable for effective participation. The evaluation is based on the followings:
• Regular class attendance and active participation: 40%
• Group work with oral presentation: 30%
• Essay work (final paper) with oral presentation: 30%
Related courses
- TIM.C532 ： Research, Development, Test & Evaluation of Advanced/Defense Technology
- TIM.C510 ： Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Analysis I
- TIM.B519 ： Analysis of Risk and Crisis Management
Prerequisites
N.A.