Case studies are
a specific type of research design in the social sciences. They are an
attractive choice for researchers as they allow for covering a wide variety of
social and political phenomena with a great dose of detail. Case study research
has been a powerful tool for developing, refining, and testing social
scientific theories and producing research findings useful to policymakers.
This version of the Data Lab aims to explore case study research's main
components and examine its place within social science methodology. Case
studies can serve a wide variety of research goals, from thick descriptions of
particular cases to developing and testing causal theories, yet each goal
requires specific types of designs. We will focus on two types of designs that
are most prevalent in contemporary social and political sciences: (i) cross-case
comparisons (controlled comparisons), focusing on identifying factors and
conditions that are credibly associated with an outcome of interest; and (ii)
within-case analysis (process tracing) focusing on tracing causal mechanisms
linking those factors and conditions to outcomes.
The course has the two-fold objective of understanding the advantages and challenges of these different designs and acquiring the essential tools to conduct rigorous case study research. We will explore both the theory and practice of cross-case and within-case analysis, focusing on core issues such as appropriate case selection techniques, the type of data that we can use (e.g., testimonial, observation, archival), the types of inferences that we can make based on these data, and strategies to assess the quality and evidentiary weight of these data.
At the end of the course, students will have the tools to be both critical consumers of literature using case study research and start becoming aware producers of that literature.
- Docente titolare: Juan Masullo
- Docente titolare: Orsola Razzolini
- Docente titolare: Ke Zhenxing
- Docente titolare: Andrea Ruggeri
Course syllabus
The course offers an overview of International and Comparative labour law with a focus on the following topics: the fundamental right to collective bargaining and the right to strike in International and comparative perspective; the distinction between employment and self-employment; platform work and workers' protection in the platform economy; algorithmic management; homeworking and smartworking; adequate and minimum wage; the concept of firm and workers' participation in the decision-making process; business and human rights - human rights due diligence in global supply chains; dismissal law. The course also intends to provide students with a good knowledge of comparative method in the employment and labour law field as to enable them to understand the most significant differences between the American, European and Chinese legal perspectives on relevant labour law issues.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
The course is held entirely in English with the support of slides and other teaching materials. During the course guests, experts on particular topics or social parties may be invited to present their insights or experiences. Active student participation is recommended. At the end of the course, students will be required to give short power point presentations on topics agreed upon with the teacher.
Teaching Resources
Slides used in class, articles and other teaching materials uploaded in Ariel website.
Book: Elena Sychenko, Adalberto Perulli, Employment Law and the European Convention of Human Rights, Kluwer, 2023 (available on line via SBA UNIMI or in the library of via Conservatorio 7).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is an oral exam. For attending students (at least 70% of attendance) it might be also possible to submit a takehome paper on specific issues. Attending students will be also required to give class presentations during the course.
- Docente titolare: Orsola Razzolini
The aim of the course is to provide students with a conceptual and analytical framework for understanding the main trends and problems affecting the regulation of labour and employment relations in a global context. The course will present: (i) an introduction to the main theoretical perspectives on comparative industrial relations; (ii) the characteristics and the role of industrial relations actors, including unions, employers and the state; (iii) the methods of industrial relations and their transformation over time; (iv) recent trends in industrial relations systems both at the national and at the global level; (v) the implications of different institutions of industrial relations for employees and their organisations, as well as for macro-economic performance and inequalities; (vi) some aspects of the changing context in which industrial relations take place.
- Docente titolare: Lisa Dorigatti
OBIETTIVI DI APPRENDIMENTO:
Il Dissertation Lab guida gli studenti nella preparazione e strutturazione della tesi del master “Global Politics
and Society”, ed è specificamente indicato per coloro i quali desiderano condurre ricerca empirica per la
propria tesi. Nella prima parte, il Laboratorio spiegherà come identificare un argomento di ricerca, come
sviluppare domande di ricerca pertinenti e come sviluppare il disegno della ricerca. Il Laboratorio introdurrà
poi i principali metodi di ricerca e si concentrerà sulla conduzione della revisione della letteratura. Da ultimo,
si illustrerà come strutturare la tesi, come gestire la bibliografia e citare correttamente, e, infine, come
presentare i risultati della ricerca, in forma scritta e orale. Il Laboratorio contemplerà lezioni frontali, ma
porrà particolare enfasi a esercitazioni, attività di gruppo e presentazioni, per dare agli studenti l’opportunità
di applicare immediatamente quanto apprendono ai loro interessi di ricerca e ai loro piani per la tesi. Le
competenze acquisite tramite il Laboratorio possono rivelarsi molto utili per il futuro professionale degli
studenti, soprattutto per quanto concerne la redazione di report e la preparazione di presentazioni orali.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The Dissertation Lab provides students with guidance about how to structure and draft the final dissertation
of the master “Global Politics and Society”, and is especially intended for students aiming to conduct
empirical research for their dissertation. In the first part, the Lab will explain how to define a research topic,
develop research questions and craft a research design. It will then continue with introducing the main
research methods in social sciences and with outlining how to conduct a literature review. Lastly, it will
illustrate how to structure the thesis and the individual chapters. Moreover, time will be devoted to the
correct management of citations and bibliography and to the effective presentation of research findings,
both in written and oral form. In order to give students the opportunity to immediately apply what they
learn to their own interests and plans for the final dissertation, particular emphasis will be given to exercises
and in-class activities, which will complement standard lectures. Skills acquired through the Dissertation Lab
will be useful even in the professional field, especially for what concerns writing reports and preparing oral
presentations.
RISULTATI DI APPRENDIMENTO ATTESI:
Al termine del Dissertation Lab, gli studenti saranno in grado di:
- Identificare un argomento di ricerca e formulare domande di ricerca appropriate (ed eventualmente
delle ipotesi collegate);
- Raccogliere, organizzare e presentare la letteratura di riferimento;
- Sviluppare il disegno di ricerca empirico;
- Sviluppare l’argomentazione;
- Presentare i risultati di ricerca in forma scritta e orale, con riferimento anche a una presentazione
con slides.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the Dissertation lab, students will be able to:
- Identify a research topic and formulate appropriate research questions (with related hypotheses,
when relevant);
- Collect, organize and present the relevant literature;
- Develop the empirical research design;
- Build their argument;
- Present research findings in written and oral form, including the presentation of slideshows.
PREREQUISITI DI AMMISSIONE:
Il Lab è aperto a: (1) studenti del primo anno che desiderano cominciare a prepararsi per la tesi di laurea (2)
studenti del secondo anno che stanno per cominciare a lavorare alla propria tesi. Il Lab è raccomandato in
particolare per gli studenti interessati a svolgere (o che stanno già svolgendo) una ricercar empirica per la
propria tesi, ed è di particolare utilità per gli studenti del primo anno, affinché possano organizzare in
anticipo il loro lavoro di ricerca.
PREREQUISITES FOR ADMISSION:
The Lab is open to: (1) first-year students who would like to start organizing the work for the final
dissertation in advance; (2) second-year students who are about to start working on the final dissertation.
The Lab will be especially useful for those students who plan to conduct (or are conducting) empirical
research for their dissertation, and is particularly recommended for first-year students, for them to be able
to organize in advance their research work.
METODI DI INSEGNAMENTO:
Ogni incontro sarà composto di una parte di lezione frontale e di una parte interattiva, con esercitazioni e
attività individuali o di gruppo che gli studenti svolgeranno in aula, anche basate su piccoli compiti assegnati
tra una lezione e l’altra. Gli studenti avranno l’opportunità di applicare quanto apprendono ai propri interessi
di ricerca e alla tesi che svilupperanno o stanno sviluppando. Al termine del Lab, gli studenti prepareranno
una piccola presentazione riguardante il loro progetto di ricerca (a prescindere dallo stato di avanzamento
del progetto stesso), che illustreranno ai loro colleghi. Trattandosi di un Laboratorio, è fortemente
consigliata la partecipazione attiva e la frequenza.
TEACHING METHODS:
Each lesson will include a teaching part and an interactive part, with exercises and individual or group inclass
activities, also based on small assignments. Students will have the opportunity to apply what they learn
during the lab to their own research interests and dissertation topics. At the end of the Lab, students will
prepare a small slideshow on their own research project (regardless of its advancement), and will present it
to their colleagues. Since the course is a Lab, attendance is strongly advised.
- Docente titolare: Moris Triventi
- Emmanuele Pavolini: Ilaria Madama
- Emmanuele Pavolini: Emmanuele Pavolini
- Docente titolare: Sergio Splendore