Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

Scientific Research Methodology

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
JF_406
Branch of Science
Law
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Juridical Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

Develop an idea of conducting research work in law and promote students’ independent research work.

Preliminary Knowledge

General knowledge of the state and law.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.- name and describe science branches in Latvia; - names the types of research design; - arranges the stages of the research in a logical order; - outlines the conditions of the Methodological Rules for the basic requirements for research design; - identifies types of academic honesty; - name 4 types of legal problem and describe each of them; - defines the types of sources and the possibilities of finding them for scientifically reliable sources; - describes the topic and topic differences; - reproduces the logic of the content chapters from the sample; - identifies 11 elements of research methodology; - names methods and methods of interpretation of legal norms, knows how to handle them; - describes the nature of scientific writing style; - name the features of other writing styles; - describes the essence of the final research work; - summarizes the research results from the sample; - recognizes the stages of presenting the research result.

Skills

1.- explains and argues the choice of research design for legal science research; - explains and justifies the necessity of the sequence of research stages; - explains the essence of the Methodological Rules and recognizes errors in their non-observance; - recognizes violations of academic honesty in practical situations; - identifies the type of legal problem in a specific situation; - recognizes and knows how to find scientifically reliable sources; - can formulate topics and topic names in examples; - can formulate a simple table of contents from a sample; - can explain the use of methodology in study work I; - knows how to arrange the elements of the methodology in the correct order and is able to describe this order; - able to describe differences in methods and methods of interpretation of legal norms; - recognizes the scientific writing style in the text; - is able to explain the mechanism of formation of the conclusion of the research work; - is able to select research results from the sample to be forwarded for presentation; - knows how to identify the most important research results that characterize the topic; - able to lay out the final content in a presentation sample (PPTX); - able to work in a team, discuss, argue and present research results.

Competences

1.- resolves practical violations of academic integrity and does not allow them in their activities; - describes a specific legal problem for its topic; - knows how to find and use scientifically reliable sources for his topic; - plans and describes the research methodology for the chosen topic; - modifies the methods and methods of interpretation of legal norms for the topic of his research work; - knows how to design a research paper in accordance with the requirements of the Methodological Regulations; - analyzes foreign text, finding methodology errors and correcting them; - practically knows how to present the results of research work using a sample (PPTX).

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

-
-
Students are required to master the materials in e-studies. Students’ knowledge is regularly tested during the course: tests, group work, active participation in seminars. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
-
50% Compulsory attendance: 20%. Participation in seminars: 20%. 4 tests passed: 20% Individual home assignment [introduction to research work]: 20%. Written examination: 20%. The examination is taken by those students who have fulfilled the course requirements. The final assessment for the study course is an average mark.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Science. The nature of the research work.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Starting the research work.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Starting the research work.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Types of a research problem.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Types of a research problem.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Choosing a topic and formulating the research question. Research plan.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study trip
2

Topics

Choosing a topic and formulating the research question. Research plan.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Choosing a research design. Time planning for the research.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Choosing a research design. Time planning for the research.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Methodology.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Methodology.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

General scientific research methods.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Analysis of legal provisions. Methods of interpretation of legal provisions.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Analysis of legal provisions. Methods of interpretation of legal provisions.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Research development and results. Presenting the results.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Research development and results. Presenting the results.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Science. The nature of the research work.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Starting the research work.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Methodology.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

General scientific research methods.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Research development and results. Presenting the results.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
10 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Pētnieciskā darba izstrādāšanas, noformēšanas un aizstāvēšanas metodiskie noteikumi: RSU Juridiskās fakultātes Domes 17.06.2021. sēdes noteikumi. Pieejams: http://www.rsu.lv/fakultates/juridiska-fakultate - aplūkots 20.08.2016.

2.

Pētniecība. Teorija un prakse/Aut.kol. K.Mārtinsones, D. Kamerādes zin.red. Rīga, RaKa, 2016, 546 lpp.

3.

Zinātniskā rakstīšana un pētījumu rezultātu izplatīšana/Aut.kol. K.Mārtinsones un A.Piperes zin.red. Rīga, RSU, 2018

4.

Zinātniskās rakstīšanas skola. D. Laiveniece. Liepāja, LiePa, 2015.

Additional Reading

1.

Kā uzrakstīt diplomdarbu. U. Eko. Rīga, Jāņa Rozes apgāds, 2006.