PhD Course
Introduction to Empirical (Legal) Research: Methods & Techniques
Course Description: In the last decade the role of empirical legal research has increased significantly. This course is designed for PhD candidates in law to explore the ‘landscape’ of empirical research. The course ‘Introduction to Empirical Research Methods & Techniques’ consists of seminars by lecturers from multiple scientific disciplines (e.g. sociology; anthropology; criminology and law). During the meetings attention is paid to various empirical methods of qualitative and quantitative research and assignments are applied each week. It will be taught how to set up empirical research and how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your research. Preparation by reading the literature prescribed and executing the assignments is obligatory. The following aspects are discussed (among others): empirical research and the law, methodological justification, validity and reliability, statistical significance, ethical issues and triangulation. The collection, description and the analysis of data will be discussed, as well as the principles of qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as conducting an open interview and statistical analysis. The participant is expected to critically assess research results at the end of the course.
Lecturers: The course is taught by dr. Eric Cano Cobano (Criminology). Guest lecturers are:
- dr. Daan van Uhm (Criminology)
- prof. dr. Kees van de Bos (Social Psychology, Emperical Legal Science)
- Frans de Liagre Böhl, David Gecks-Cicconi & Leon Kessels (Datamanagement, ethics and the GDPR)
Prior Requirements: Being a PhD candidate in Law
When: The course will take place on the following dates (dates of February/March subjected to change):
- Lecture 1: January 12th, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
- Lecture 2: January 19th, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
- Lecture 3: January 27th, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
- Lecture 4: February 2nd, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
- Lecture 5: February 9th, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
- Lecture 6: February 16th, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
- Lecture 7: February 23rd, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
- Lecture 8: March 2nd, 16:30 – 18:30, Janskerkhof 2/3, room 2.17
Max External Participants: 5
Course Coordinator: Dr. Eric Cano Cabano
Registration: Please send an e-mail to rgl.bestuurssecretariaat@uu.nl.