RESEARCH METHODS AND DESIGN FOR ASIAN STUDIES

The course is part of the basic subjects common to the master degree programme in "Languages of Asia and North Africa for Business and International Cooperation". The course explains social theory from the following two perspectives. (i) Area studies and disciplines, and (ii) Research design and methods. The aim is to acquire flexible and versatile approaches and skills in problem-solving based on specific research and analysis methods.

Attendance and individual study will allow students to:
1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1. acquire knowledge of research design;
1.2. acquire knowledge of research methods
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1. ability to apply the research design and methods to area studies.
3. Making judgements
3.1. ability to establish the best research methods for approaching research topic and theme

I recommend that students possess an intermediate level of Japanese (Level N3 JLPT) to integrate and deepen the issues presented during the course. Moreover, Students should have basic knowledge of the history and contemporary Japanese and Asian society or have received credits in SOCIETÀ CONTEMPORANEE DELL'ASIA ORIENTALE.

The schedule of classes is as follows:

① Research Literacy and Design
② Area Studies and Disciplines
③ The Rise of ‘Globalization’
④ Area Studies in the Global Era
⑤ Topic, Theme, and Research Questions
⑥ Previous Studies and Data
⑦ Hypothesis and Valuables
⑧ Sampling, Research Methods (1)
⑨ Research Methods (2)
⑩ Research Methods (3)
⑪ Data analysis and Concepts (1)
⑫ Data analysis and Concepts (2)
⑬ Writing and Research (1)
⑭ Writing and Research (2)
⑮ Research and Social Worlds

Supplementary text:
Hammond, Michael and Jerry Wellington, 2020, Research Methods: The Key Concepts (Routledge Key Guides), Routledge.
Morin, Jean-Frederic, Christian Olsson, and Ece Ozlem Atikcan ed., 2021, Research Methods in the Social Sciences: An A-z of Key Concepts, Oxford University Press.
Leavy, Patricia, 2023, Research Design: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods, Arts-Based, and Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches, Second Edition, Guilford Press.

Alvesson, M., & Sandberg, J., 2013, Constructing Research Questions: Doing Interesting Research, SAGE Publications.
Booth, Wayne C. , Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup and William T. FitzGerald, 2016, The Craft of Research, Fourth Edition, Fourth Edition, the University of Chicago Press.
Chaubey, Varanya, 2018, The little book of research writing : the structural challenge of communicating knowledge + a method to meet it, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Creswell, John W., 2021, A Concise Introduction to Mixed Methods Research, ‎ SAGE Publications.
Creswell, John W., and Vicki L. Plano Clark, 2017, Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, SAGE Publications.
Kottmann, Nora and Cornelia Reiher (eds.), 2020, Studying Japan: Handbook of Research Designs, Fieldwork and Methods, Nomos.
Mullaney, Thomas S., and Christopher Rea, 2022,, Where Research Begins Choosing a Research Project That Matters to You and the,World, Univ of Chicago Press.
Punch, Keith F, 2013, Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, SAGE Publications Ltd.
Silvia, Paul J., 2019, Howto Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing, 2nd ed, American Psychological Association.
Wadsworth, Yoland, 2020, Do It Yourself Social Research: The bestselling practical guide to doing social research projects, Routledge.

Chang, Ha-Joon, 2014, Economics: The User's Guide, Pelican.
Conrad, Sebastian, 2016, What is Global History?, Princeton University Press.
Boddy, David, 2012, Essentials of Management: A Concise Introduction, Pearson.
Gamble, Andrew, 2019, Politics: Why It Matters, Polity.
Jones, Andrew, 2012, Human Geography: The Basics, Routledge.
Tim Ingold, Tim, 2018, Anthropology: Why It Matters, Polity.
Peter Burke, 2019, What is Cultural History?, Polity.
Plummer, Ken, 2021, Sociology: The Basics, Routledge.

To complete this course, students must pass the following two assignments. The exam programme is the same for non-frequent students.
1) Pass the computer exam on ‘Research Design and methods’ (pass at 18/30, 50%).
2) Submit a research plan for your Tesi magistrale (50%). The research plan should include the following points: 1) what topics and themes you are interested in, 2) previous research, 3) what question you want to answer (research question), and 4) what methods you will use to collect data (research methods). The report should be written in English around 1500 words.

written

Regarding the grading scale (how grades will be assigned), regardless of attending or non-attending mode:
Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded for a sufficient knowledge of the research design and methods introduced in class and a sufficient ability to adapt them to their research.
Scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded for a fair knowledge of the research design and methods introduced in class and a fair ability to adapt them to their own research.
Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded for a good or excellent knowledge of the research design and methods introduced in class and a good or excellent ability to adapt them to their own research.
Honours will be awarded for outstanding knowledge of the research design and methods introduced in class and an outstanding for adapting them to their own research.

Frontal lessons in Japanese.

All materials of the lessons and further readings will be available on the moodle platform dedicated to the course.

All course materials will be available on the moodle platform dedicated to the course.

Students who have obtained credits in East Asian History may also take this couse.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development