Dr. Eteri Tsintsadze-Maass
Old Dominion University
June 14-15, 2021 at 6:00-8:00 PM Tbilisi Time
This workshop aims to help research-oriented students develop their skills in research design, learning to ask interesting research questions, build convincing theories, and develop testable hypotheses through a combination of presentations, facilitated discussions, and interactive exercises. We will discuss the fundamentals of scientific research, dedicating special attention to the scientific method, inference, and transparency, as well as cover common barriers to conducting research in the social sciences and ways of overcoming them. This workshop will consist of two sessions, focusing on (1) asking good research questions, (2) assembling thorough literature reviews, (3) building persuasive theories, and (4) formulating testable hypotheses. Throughout, our discussion will address core principles of research design including policy relevance, falsifiability, scholarly contributions, generalizability, and causal mechanisms. This workshop may be of interest to early graduate and advanced undergraduate students.
This workshop, while independent, is thematically connected to the workshop, “Research Methods in the Social Sciences.” Interested applicants are encouraged to take both workshops. For more information, see: https://arisc.org/2-day-workshop-on-research-methods-in-the-social-sciences/
Minimum requirements for eligibility:
- Represent a field in the social sciences
- Be an early graduate student or an advanced undergraduate student
- Have English-language proficiency
Applicants must submit the following set of documents:
- Statement of Interest in English. Please explain your specific interest in research design and research methods, as well as what you hope to get out of the workshop
- Short (2 page) CV in English with the contact details of one reference
Applications must be submitted in one combined file (MS Word or PDF) no later than June 11, 2021 to TbilisiResearchWorkshop[at]gmail.com. In the subject line of the e-mail, please indicate: “Workshop on Research Design.” Applicants who meet the requested criteria will be admitted on a first-come first-serve basis. For additional details, please contact georgia[at]arisc.org.
Eteri Tsintsadze-Maass is Assistant Director of the Graduate Program in International Studies (GPIS) at Old Dominion University, where she also teaches international relations and comparative politics courses. Before joining Old Dominion University, she earned her PhD in political science from the University of Kentucky (2020). Her research focuses on weak states’ security, the role of national mobilization in states’ foreign policy choices, and the international politics in the post-Soviet region.
Funding for this workshop is provided by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs through a grant to the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC). The event is sponsored by American Research Institute for the South Caucasus (ARISC). ARISC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran.