Lesson Report:
### Lesson Report
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#### **Title**
*Research Methodologies and Developing Analytical Frameworks for Political Science Papers*
This class aimed to refine students’ research questions and methodological frameworks for political science papers. The session focused on concepts of public diplomacy, national identity, marginalization, and institutional reactions—breaking down how to operationalize these ideas for analysis. The objectives were to address gaps in the literature, establish effective research questions, and align methodologies with research goals.
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#### **Attendance**
– 1 student absent: Amira
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#### **Topics Covered**
1. **Kickoff and Group Activity on Research Questions**
– Students formed groups (both in-person and online) to discuss their preliminary research questions and sub-research questions.
– Instructions:
– Partners were tasked with sharing their primary research questions and breaking down their structures.
– Each group identified areas of success and challenges from their first submissions.
– Goal: Develop an actionable plan for addressing unresolved gaps and ensuring solid progress within two weeks.
2. **Core Political Science Concepts in Research Questions (Individual Reviews)**
– The session transitioned into individual consultations with students regarding their research topics.
– **Bober’s Research on Turkish Public Diplomacy and Soft Power**:
– Core concept: Use of soft power and public diplomacy during the AK Party era in Turkey.
– Key instructions:
– Define the concept of public diplomacy.
– Clarify Turkey’s goals in Uzbekistan and the specific expected outcomes.
– Break research questions into goals, methods, and outcomes.
– Example methods: Media engagement, Turkish-language schools, cultural exchange programs.
– Adjustments: Avoid unintentional descriptive writing by focusing on goals, strategies, and results.
– **Assel’s Comparative Study of Public Diplomacy (China vs. Russia in Kyrgyzstan)**:
– Research questions: What tools do China and Russia use? How do their strategies differ?
– Suggested adjustments:
– Separate analysis of goals from public diplomacy methods.
– Context: China’s strategies focus on foundational influence-building (e.g., education programs). Russia relies on existing historical/cultural familiarity.
– Comparative approach: Investigate complementary or competitive dynamics in public diplomacy outcomes.
– Note: Success metrics can be difficult to measure and only supplementary (e.g., interviews/surveys).
– **Sobir’s Analysis of Radicalization and Marginalization in Tajikistan**:
– Core concept: Relationship between Rahman’s identity-driven state marginalization and radicalization of citizens.
– Structure:
– Define “marginalization” and “radicalization” within Tajikistan’s context.
– Investigate state coercion mechanisms (e.g., criminalization of beards, suppression of religious identity) and their role in failed state policies.
– Cited example: Imprisonment linked to increased ISIS recruitment.
– Emphasis on relevance: Highlight Rahman’s personality-driven policies and rising extremism near Afghanistan’s borders.
– **Danaya’s Study of Institutional Reactions and Public Perception on Domestic Violence**:
– Core concept: Intersection of institutional responses and public perceptions in Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan.
– Recommendations:
– Refine definitions of “institutional reactions,” “public perceptions,” and the verb “shape” in the context of domestic violence.
– Methods: Use media analysis, survey data, or thematic coding to operationalize public perception.
– Narrow institutional focus (e.g., specific politicians or institutions) and justify why they matter.
3. **General Methodological Guidance**
– Importance of defining terms like “shape,” “public perception,” or “goals” for clarity in political research.
– Tools for defining analytical frameworks:
– Google Scholar, JSTOR for identifying existing terminologies/frameworks.
– Coding and thematic analysis for connecting official rhetoric to broader phenomena.
– Avoid purely descriptive analyses by emphasizing causal relationships between variables.
4. **Final Instructions for Annotated Bibliography and Future Steps**
– Students were required to compile 3–4 annotated bibliographic entries for their sources.
– Specific expectations: Reports should include how sources contribute to answering key sub-questions.
– Reminder: These reports would be presented during the last 10-15 minutes of the following class.
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#### **Actionable Items**
##### **Urgent (Before Next Class)**
– **Students**:
– Consult with research supervisors before the next class to finalize research questions, definitions, and methodologies.
– Prepare a preliminary annotated bibliography for at least 3–4 sources with respective explanations (due in the next session).
– **Instructor**:
– Provide outstanding senior thesis feedback (e.g., for Akhtan).
– Write and submit a letter of recommendation for a student applying by the 3rd of February.
##### **Intermediate/Optional**
– If relevant, explore parallel public diplomacy frameworks in Chinese case studies to strengthen Assel’s research.
– Identify suitable qualitative software for thematic coding (e.g., NVivo) for Sobir’s study.
– Assist Danaya in identifying accessible public perception measurement tools (e.g., media analysis frameworks).
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The class progressed from group discussion to detailed feedback on student projects, emphasizing definitional clarity, methodological rigor, and a focus on analytical depth over descriptive analysis. Students left with clear next steps for refining their research and actionable feedback from the instructor.
Homework Instructions:
### ASSIGNMENT #1: Annotated Bibliography of Research Sources
**Summary:**
This assignment involves compiling an annotated bibliography to assess and explain how existing sources relate to your primary and sub-research questions. The purpose of this task is to refine your research focus and establish a strong foundation for your senior thesis by linking your sources with the research questions you outlined during this session. This work directly supports your ability to conduct a rigorous analysis as discussed in class.
**Instructions:**
1. **Review Your Research Sources:** Use the list of sources you have already identified and discussed with your supervisor or group members. Ensure that you have three to four sources related to your research area.
2. **Write Bibliographic Entries:** For each source, write a full citation in the appropriate citation style for your field (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA). Include all relevant information such as the author(s), title, publication date, and publisher or journal details.
3. **Summarize Each Source:** Below each citation, provide a brief summary (2-3 sentences) of the content of the source. Explain the main argument, methodology, and findings.
4. **Link to Your Research Questions:** Write 3-4 sentences analyzing how this source answers, supports, or challenges one or more of your research questions. Be specific about how the source aligns with your core concepts or sub-questions. For example, outline its relevance to defining key terms such as “public diplomacy,” “radicalization,” or “institutional responses,” as discussed in today’s lesson.
5. **Provide Contextual Evidence:** Where applicable, cite examples from the text. For instance, if the source discusses case studies or comparative methods that relate to your research, highlight these specific contributions.
6. **Submit Your Work:** Compile these bibliographic annotations into a single document. Ensure your writing is clear, concise, and free of grammar or citation errors. Submit your document through the designated course submission portal before the stated deadline.
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### ASSIGNMENT #2: Refined Research Questions and Supervisor Consultation
**Summary:**
The goal of this assignment is to refine the definition and scope of your research questions based on feedback and class discussions. By meeting with your supervisor, you will finalize your conceptual framework and ensure that your definitions, relationships, and methodology are well-aligned and feasible for your thesis.
**Instructions:**
1. **Review Your Current Research Questions:** Using the feedback provided in class, assess your main research question and sub-research questions. Focus on ensuring precise definitions of key terms (e.g., “public perception,” “radicalization,” “institutional reactions”).
2. **List Important Concepts:** Clearly identify and define the core political science concepts that form your research framework. Ensure these concepts are derived from scholarly literature (e.g., marginalization, soft power, cultural diplomacy).
3. **Clarify Relationships:** Outline the relationships between your variables. For example:
– What causal relationship are you investigating (e.g., “How does X lead to Y”)?
– How are you operationalizing terms like “shape,” “impact,” or “success”?
4. **Prepare for Supervisor Consultation:** Create an action plan for your upcoming consultation with your supervisor. This should include:
– A summary of your research question(s) and any open-ended issues.
– An outline of how you plan to address theoretical gaps or challenges with data collection.
5. **Engage in Consultation:** Meet with your supervisor sometime next week (before our next class). Discuss your revised research framework, ask for feedback, and confirm that your questions and methods are concrete and actionable.
6. **Submit a Brief Reflection:** After your consultation, write a short reflection (200-300 words) summarizing the feedback received, changes made to your research framework, and your final research question(s). Include how the consultation has prepared you for the next stage of your project.
7. **Deadline for Reflection:** Submit your reflection document through the course portal by the due date.
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### REMINDER:
Both assignments are designed to prepare you for successful data collection and analysis. Completing these tasks will ensure you have a solid foundation before diving into your thesis work. Be thorough, reference class concepts, and reach out if you have any questions.