Kurs
Researching Human Rights and Democracy
General information
The course is a compulsory component of the M.A. Program in Human Rights and Democracy.
Language of instruction: English
Course description
This course provides an advanced introduction to research methods and theories of knowledge of relevance for the study of human rights and democracy. The emphasis falls on the field of human rights studies, and the course serves as an introduction to how this field has developed over time and in relation to traditional academic disciplines like law, philosophy, as well as social and political science. In addition, the course introduces a range of research methods and perspectives on research ethics. The course thereby provides students with tools for carrying out an advanced thesis and other research projects, but also other forms of knowledge production in and outside of academia.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, the student shall be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
- skillfully present and critically assess different theoretical perspectives and research methods of relevance to the study of human rights and democracy,
- display a strong command of relevant concepts and strands within the philosophy of science,
- describe and critically assess the evolution of interdisciplinary human rights studies, and its relation to traditional academic fields like law, philosophy, as well as social and political science,
Competence and skills
- formulate a relevant methodological and theoretical framework for an advanced degree project of relevance to the study of human rights and democracy,
- account and argue for one’s assessment of complex phenomena—orally as well as in writing;
Judgement and approach
- reflect critically and independently on central theories and concepts within the field of inquiry;
- analyze and assess information using scientific criteria.
Reservation för revidering av litteraturen.
Andreassen, B. A., O’Brien, C. M., & Sano, H. O. (Eds.). (2024). Research methods in human rights: A handbook. Edward Elgar Publishing. 400 p.
Aurini, Janice D., Melanie Heath & Stephanie Howells (2022). The How to of Qualitative Research 2nd ed. London: Sage (333 pp.). ISBN: 978-1-5264-9504-4
Becker, Howard (2001). ”The Epistemology of Qualitative Research”. In, Robert E. Emerson, Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations. Long Grove: Waveland Press, pp. 317-331 (15 pp.).
Bishop, Robert C., 2007. The Philosophy of the Social Sciences: An Introduction. London: Continuum (396 sid). ISBN: 0-8264-8953-2.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Creswell & Creswell, Human Rights Measuring Initiative, (2019). Is the Global situation of Human Rights improving or deteriorating? Mapping the case of the empirical measuring of human rights change. (40 pp.)
Gonzalez-Salzberg, D., & Hodson, L. (Eds.). (2019). Research methods for international human rights law: beyond the traditional paradigm. Routledge. 250 p.
Jackson, Patrick T., (2011). The Conduct of Inquiry in International Relations: Philosophy of science and its implications for the study of world politics. London: Routledge. (pp. 1-40) (40 pp.). ISBN: 978-0-415-77627.
Landman, Todd & Edzia Carvalho (2009). Measuring Human Rights. London: Routledge (160 pp). ISBN: 978-0-41544650-1
Merry, Sally E., 2011. ”Measuring the World: Indicators, Human Rights and Global Governance”. Current Anthropology, vol. 52, suppl. 3, sid 83-95 (13 s).
Mills, Sara (2001). Discourse. London: Routledge. ISBN: 0-415-13854-X. (160 pages)
Nencel, L. (2014). Situating reflexivity: Voices, positionalities and representations in feminist ethnographic texts. Women’s Studies International Forum, 43, 75–83.
Sundkvist, Emma (2022) Producing Situated Knowledge in Rapidly Changing Times, in Human rights as law, language and space making (Doctoral dissertation) 71-90.
Rennstam, Jens & David Wästerfors (2015). Analyze!: Crafting your data in qualitative research. Lund: Studentlitteratur (205 pp.). ISBN: 978-91-44-12705-7
Additional articles for assignments: ca. 150 pages.
Total pages: ca. 2.180
Kurslitteraturen reviderades senast 18 juni 2024.
Schemat finns tillgängligt senast en månad innan kursen startar. Vi rekommenderar inte att du skriver ut schemat eftersom vissa ändringar kan ske.
Henrik Hannfors
Bibliotekarie, t.f. studierektor MRD, samordnare för pedagogiskt stöd, skyddsombud, systemansvar, talböcker, användarservice
Johanna Ohlsson
Prefekt Avdelningen för mänskliga rättigheter och demokrati, högskolelektor
Betyg
A = Framstående, B = Mycket bra, C = Bra, D = Tillfredsställande, E = Tillräcklig, Fx = Otillräcklig, komplettering möjlig, F = OtillräckligExaminationsformer
- PM
Entry requirements
The applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree in human rights studies or another related
field in social or political science, law or the humanities. Students with undergraduate
degrees in the natural sciences, engineering or medicine may also be admitted subject to
their ability to demonstrate a proficiency in human rights, for instance through professional
or voluntary work or activity.
In addition, advanced level studies in human rights studies of 45 credits or the equivalent.
If English is not the applicant’s native language, his or her language proficiency is to be
demonstrated by e.g. IELTS test, TOEFL test, Cambridge/Oxford test, a Bachelor’s degree
from a study programme taught entirely in English, or a passing grade in English 6/English B from
Swedish upper secondary school.
- För fullgjord kurs krävs minst 80% närvaro vid föreläsningar och 100% närvaro vid seminarier/gruppövningar och andra tillfällen för redovisning. Frånvaro därutöver kan kompenseras genom kompletteringsuppgift (-er) om kursansvarig lärare bedömer det möjligt. Vid frånvaro om 50 % eller mer betraktas kursen som avbruten, även om examinationsuppgifter har genomförts.
- Om student har ett beslut från EHS om särskilt pedagogiskt stöd på grund av funktionsnedsättning, skall examinator vid behov anpassa examinationen och genomföra examinationen på ett alternativt sätt.
- Student har möjlighet att tentera kurs enligt ursprunglig kursplan inom två år efter kurstillfället. Om särskilda skäl föreligger kan sådan omtentamen ske även senare. Normalt ges inte undervisning enligt äldre kursplan. Möjligheten till dispens ska avgöras av rektor eller prefekt.
Fastställd av Kollegiet i Mänskliga rättigheter och demokrati vid Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm den 3 oktober 2019.