Research Design Course

Cluster

Research and Valorization

Target audience

All early-stage PhD candidates across UGent, with specific focus on PhDs in Social Science

Teacher

Dr. Dawid Walentek

Prof. Dr. Ferdi De Ville

Abstract

Theory allows us to ask the right questions, while methods allow us for a rigorous test of the data. Yet the step from theory to data is particularly challenging for early-stage PhD candidates. This manifests itself in, for example, concern whether the research question is actually a question, how (and whether) to move from the research question to hypotheses, the trade-off between (internal) validity and reliability or the level of external validity. These questions are not unique to any social science discipline, ontology or epistemology and are a systematic aspect of starting a doctoral degree. This course allows to address them in an organised way through group-learning with fellow PhD candidates, while also fostering a feeling of a scientific community.

Upon the completion of the course the participants will have a robust research design for their doctoral project, allowing to proceed with the data collection and analysis. The course will increase the prospects of a timely and successful delivery of the thesis by the participating PhD candidates, while also reducing the workload of the promotors across the Faculty, as research design issues systematically arise in the early stages of the doctoral programme across social science.

Dates and venue

Location for all sessions: Fatima Mernissi meeting room in the library of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences (room number 27.12.100.017) 

Programme

Preliminary timetable

• September 2025             Research Question
• October 2025                   Proposition
• November 2025              Operationalisation, Validity & Reliability
• December 2025              Case selection & inference (causal and descriptive)
• January 2026                    Presentation/poster session (followed by a group lunch)

Registration

All sessions are delivered by Ferdi De Ville and Dawid Walentek. 

Please e-mail Ferdi (Ferdi.DeVille@UGent.be) or Dawid (Dawid.Walentek@UGent.be) if interested.

• The no show policy applies.

Registration fee

Free of charge for Doctoral School members.

Number of participants

Maximum 4-12 participants

Language

English

Training method

Workshop setting for the first four meetings and a (poster) presentation for the last meeting (each session is 2 hours), PhDs are expected to join all sessions, prepare a written assignment (pertaining to their their doctoral project) for each sessions, and actively participate in the classroom activities (e.g., peer-feedback or brainstorm sessions).

Evaluation method

Attendance and delivery of the final presentation/poster.

After successful participation, the Doctoral School Office will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this can take up to one to two months after completion of the course.