Dr Kristin Surak

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Political Sociology. This course is not available as an outside option.

These seminars aim to help you to begin the process of writing your dissertation. At the end of AT we will have a few seminars that aim to get students thinking at a meta-level about research in political sociology. The seminars can, of course, only address a small selection of approaches. Examples might include rational choice and institutionalist theories, or comparative and case study methods. But please note that the MSc in Political Sociology takes a pluralist approach and does not seek to prescribe these or any other particular theories or methods. In WT we will hold dissertation workshop seminars that aim to give individually tailored guidance on proposed research questions in small groups with fellow students who are working on similar topics or using similar methods. Every student is required to make a formal presentation once during the term.

In AT there will be 2 x 1.5 hour seminars for all students. In WT students will be expected to attend at least one of the 6 x 1.5 hour workshops.

There will be two sessions during AT for ALL MSc students based in the Sociology department. These will be offered in conjunction with LSE Life and LSE Library and provide basic guidance about planning your dissertation, such as selecting a suitable topic, designing the research and reviewing the existing literature.

Reading Weeks: Students on this course will have a reading week in AT Week 6 and WT Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

Students are expected to participate in seminars beginning in AT and produce a research statement and presentation in the WT.

Students will: (1) assess the strengths and weakness of selected theories and methods; (2) formulate a clearly specified research question and set out the rationale for researching this question and a proposed approach; and (3) give a presentation which develops one or two of the main arguments they anticipate will be important to their project.

Donatella Della Porta and Michael Keating (2008), Approaches and Methods in the Social Sciences: a Pluralist Approach, Thomas Janoski et al, (2005), The Handbook of Political Sociology, James Mahoney and Dietrich Rueschemeyer (2003), Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences.

Dissertation (100%, 10000 words) in August.

An electronic copy of the dissertation, to be uploaded to Moodle, no later than 4.00pm on Thursday 14th of August 2025.

Dissertations may be up to and no more than 10,000 words, must be word-processed and be fully referenced using a recognised citation system.

Attendance at all classes and submission of all set coursework is required.