1. Intro to Hand-in assignment 4 Course theme 4: Tentative outline of a Master’s thesis
Niklas Harring
Department of Political Science
13 October 2016
European Environment and Energy
Masters Programme in European Studies

2. Do not forget what the course is about
Do not forget what the course is about! Topics should be related to Europe, Environment and/or Energy
Formulate a research problem based on 2 out of 3 themes…

3. Policy process: how is problem X defined the way it is in policy, and why? What actors and institutions are involved, what interests are at stake? What ideas are powerful?
Implementation: what happens in the process after decisions are made? How do various relevant actors respond to or act in relation to decided policy at the European level? Includes EU−MS relation
The EU as a global actor/environmental leader/normative power: how does EU act internationally with regard to your topic? How does action relate to policy promotion? What are the relations between EU action/policy promotion internationally and internal decisions and the implementation record?

4. Do not forget what the course is about
Do not forget what the course is about! Topics should be related to Europe, Environment and/or Energy
Formulate a research problem
You need to discuss your way through to a research problem
Present your topic and argue why it is relevant/interesting
Discuss and review relevant and available research on your topic
Methodology/Design

5. What kind of knowledge is missing
Think critically !
- Any problems (e.g. with underlying assumptions)?
What do we not know?
What would you want to learn more about?
- Conflicting views in research – how come?

6. Specify the problem
Why a problem?
For whom or for what?
Compare
Use available research
Empirical findings and/or theoretical propositions

7. Land in a clear aim and research question suitable for a Master’s thesis
What would be the possible contribution of your study to the research field
Propose an outline of the study…

8. Propose an outline of the study
Case-study?
Comparison?
Countries?
Authorities?
Organizations (e.g. NGO’s)?
All of them?
Large-N? (quantitative analysis)
Individuals – elites or public opinion?

9. Land in a clear aim and research question suitable for a Master’s thesis
What would be the possible contribution of your study to the research field
Propose an outline of the study…
What design is suitable given your research question?

10. Choose method(s) of analysis
Is your study quantitatively or qualitatively oriented?
Maybe both?
Data availability and data collection
Survey?
Officially or otherwise available statistics?
Qualitative analysis of text material, interviews or other observations:
e.g. discourse analysis,
Which were your options?

11. Discuss possible results from your study - Several possible outcomes?
- Does previous research provide several contradictory hypotheses?
- What does this imply in relation to the problem you identified in the first place?

12. Upload no later than at 8:00 on Friday 28 October
You may find inspiration from earlier written assignments, but you are expected to develop the ideas
Style requirements specified in the course guide
Active participation during the seminars is important!

13. niklas.harring@pol.gu,se
Good luck!
Questions?

14. Evaluation of the course
The assignments?
The seminars?
The tutorials?
The lectures?
The themes?
The structure in general?