SPS501 Methodology in Social Sciences
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on May 05, 2026
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Social and Political Sciences
Aliaksandr Novikau
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is designed to introduce the “scientific thinking” and the main components of social science research design and analysis. The main objective of this course is to teach how to do research by focusing on the various steps a researcher must take in order to have a sound research design. Related to this, the major goal of this course is to provide a working knowledge of how to read, interpret, critique, do, and present social science research. To achieve this goal, we examine not only the aspects of sound design but also methods for collecting and analyzing data both qualitatively and quantitatively. Our focus on research design will allow us to explore how our research question drives our choice of method rather than our method driving our research question.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Readings for each class session are listed in the class outline. Students without or with a limited background in research methodology are encouraged to get familiar with the following undergraduate textbook: Babbie, E. R. (2021). The Practice of Social Research (15th edition). Cengage.
Additional Literature
TBATeaching Methods
Class discussion
Final project
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course | None |
| 2 | Research process | TBA |
| 3 | Approaches to research | TBA |
| 4 | Research design. Concepts and conceptualization | TBA |
| 5 | Hypotheses, variables and inference. Validity Correlation. Ecological inference. | TBA |
| 6 | Measurement | TBA |
| 7 | Sampling | TBA |
| 8 | Midterm | None |
| 9 | Causal relationships. Experimental research designs | TBA |
| 10 | Observational research designs. Case and comparative studies | TBA |
| 11 | Surveys | TBA |
| 12 | Content analysis | TBA |
| 13 | Descriptive statistics and Interferential statistics | TBA |
| 14 | Public holiday. No class | None |
| 15 | Students presentations. Conclusion. | TBA |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPS501.1 | Course | Thursday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.35 FBA Conference Room | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 - 15:00 | B F1.5 | |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 14:00 | B F1.5 | |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 12:00 | B F1.5 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Term Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 and 4
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 and 4
Facilitation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 and 4
Midterm assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 and 4
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 and 4
Final exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 and 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Midterm assignment preparation
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
Term project preparation
40 hours ⏳ (4 week × 10 h)
Final exam preparation
14 hours ⏳ (2 week × 7 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [SPS501] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on May 05, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| SPS501 | Methodology in Social Sciences | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Aliaksandr Novikau | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 14:00-15:00 Wednesday: 11:00-14:00 Thursday: 11:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| anovikau@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is designed to introduce the “scientific thinking” and the main components of social science research design and analysis. The main objective of this course is to teach how to do research by focusing on the various steps a researcher must take in order to have a sound research design. Related to this, the major goal of this course is to provide a working knowledge of how to read, interpret, critique, do, and present social science research. To achieve this goal, we examine not only the aspects of sound design but also methods for collecting and analyzing data both qualitatively and quantitatively. Our focus on research design will allow us to explore how our research question drives our choice of method rather than our method driving our research question. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Readings for each class session are listed in the class outline. Students without or with a limited background in research methodology are encouraged to get familiar with the following undergraduate textbook: Babbie, E. R. (2021). The Practice of Social Research (15th edition). Cengage. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Class discussion, final project | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course | None | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Research process | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Approaches to research | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Research design. Concepts and conceptualization | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Hypotheses, variables and inference. Validity Correlation. Ecological inference. | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Measurement | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Sampling | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm | None | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Causal relationships. Experimental research designs | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Observational research designs. Case and comparative studies | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Surveys | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Content analysis | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Descriptive statistics and Interferential statistics | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Public holiday. No class | None | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Students presentations. Conclusion. | TBA | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Term Project | 1 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, and 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Participation | 1 | 20 | 2, 3, and 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Facilitation | 1 | 10 | 2, 3, and 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm assignment | 1 | 10 | 2, 3, and 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 4 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, and 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Final exam | 1 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, and 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 3 | 14 | 42 | |||
| Midterm assignment preparation | 6 | 2 | 12 | Term project preparation | 10 | 4 | 40 | |||
| Final exam preparation | 7 | 2 | 14 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 15/05/2026 | |||||||||