Jeffrey T. Checkel: Professor and Chair in International Relations, Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute (Florence).

This course provides an in-depth introduction to field-based methods and process analytics. We begin with some preliminaries (meta-theory, ethics, transparency) and then survey key methods, including case studies, multi-sited approaches, and several techniques designed to capture process. The latter include political ethnography, interviewing, process tracing, practice tracing and following methods. Whenever possible, students will be introduced to both the positivist and interpretive variants of particular methods.

In the course's second part, we move from the conceptual to the applied, examining case, site and process methods in action - in conflict zones and post-conflict settings. Meta-theory, ethics, measurement and data-access/transparency are key themes throughout. The fundamental goal is for students to acquire sufficient knowledge to be smart, meta-theoretically plural and rigorous users of field-based research in conflict and post-conflict settings.

Successful applicants will be notified by early January 2026.

N.B. PRIO is not a credit granting institution, and while our course is based on the requirements equivalent to a 10 ECTS course it is your home institution that must decide whether you are awarded credits for taking the course.

Requirements There are two mandatory requirements; two others are optional. Note that optional requirement 3 is mandatory if you want to be recommended to receive ECTS credits. Mandatory: Active Participation in Class Discussions: The course will be run as a seminar, where debate and discussion are the norm; for each session, written discussion questions will serve as our starting point. For this format to be successful, students need to read the seminar readings prior to our first meeting on 4 May. Preparation of Discussion Points: For each class session, students should prepare a brief list of discussion questions and comments (3-5 in number); these should be based on the readings and will be distributed to all other seminar participants. Your questions-comments should reflect a critical assessment of those readings. What are their strong and weak points? Their meta-theoretical, theoretical, methodological, ethical, empirical contributions/limitations? How do they relate to or build upon other readings or discussions?

Optional: Completion of an Analytic Essay: If students wish us to recommend that they receive ECTS credit for the course, they must submit an analytic essay. You have two options. (I) Prepare an analytic review on a topic that is of special interest and is consistent with the course's purpose and theme; or (II) prepare a draft research design for a PhD project where qualitative methods and process analytics play some role. In either case, essays should be 6000-10000 words.

Participation in Half-Day Workshop: On the afternoon of Wednesday, 6 May, 1330-1600, students will have the opportunity to attend a workshop, where, in a hands-on, group setting they will apply the field-method/process literature to their own PhD projects. The workshop – while not required – is open to all course participants. If you wish to have your dissertation project and its methods discussed, please upload to the seminar Dropbox a 3-page overview, and do so by Monday, 4 May. The overview should explain and justify your choice of methods and the practical/data-related/ethical challenges you are encountering as you seek to operationalize them.

Admission PhD students will normally be prioritized.