Empirische onderzoeksvaardigheden

Doel vak

Students get familiarized with conducting research methods for both qualitative and quantitative Empirical Legal Studies (ELS).

Inhoud vak

This course is part of the Research Track (see ‘additional information’).

Through this course, students will learn about research methods for Empirical Legal Studies (ELS). This experiential learning course covers the complete empirical cycle, for both qualitative and quantitative empirical-legal research; from the formulation of research questions, to operationalisation, to research design and data collection, to data analysis, and to presenting research findings at a mock international academic conference.

Students will form a research team, guided by a research board. They will learn how to set the research agenda, how to think in contingencies, how to write and adhere by ethics and data management protocols, and how to ultimately answer their central research question. The first part of the course material covers research methodology up to study design. The second part delves into data analysis and presentation. As part of the course, students will design and execute in fieldwork empirical-legal research as a team and present their findings at said mock conference in subgroups.

Aanvullende informatie onderwijsvormen

This course will start in the first week of January in period 3 and will continue through to period 4 until the exams in March.

In January, the research team will convene six times with the research board. These student-led sessions involve the design of a vignette study and practice of the research components such as interviewing. At the end of this initial cycle, the students will be prepared to conduct their field work during which they will garner the response to the vignette from a group of participants that is large enough to draw statistical significant conclusions ideally.

During the last week of January and first week of February, the students will carry out their field work. Students will need to be aware that during the first week of January they may also have to make their exams or resits from other courses, so that time management is essential.

After those two fieldwork weeks, twelve more student-led sessions will follow in February and March, during which students conduct the data analysis and are given the opportunity to practice the presentation of their findings. The last seminar, in March, will focus on a mock conference presentation, while their individual multiple choice exam will conclude the course.

Toetsvorm

Assessment for this course combines two types of testing. The theoretical content will be assessed through a multiple-choice exam during the last session, which will test the student individually.

Practical skills are assessed through the final assignment, in which students present the analysis of their own empirical-legal research at a mock conference in subgroups.

Field work is mandatory for both assignments.

The final grade therefore consists of two parts: the first multiple choice exam by the student individually (2/3) and the conference presentation in subgroups (1/3). Both grades count towards the final grade.

This course is part of the Research Track. For the assessment of the whole Research Track, please see ‘additional information’.

Literatuur

Catrien Bijleveld, Research methods for empirical legal studies. An introduction.

Additional course material will be posted on Canvas.

Aanvullende informatie doelgroep

This course falls under the selective Research Track (RT). This track is aimed at motivated Master-students that are interested in empirical research. The RT is open to students of the following programmes: Law, Tax Law, Notary Law, Law and Politics of International Security, and International Crimes and Criminology.

Selection for the Research Track takes place during the autumn of 2026. Your application, including your CV, a recent grades-list and motivation letter, must be sent via e-mail to secretarisonderwijs.rechten@vu.nl . Please check the VU website for deadlines. If applicable, please also indicate in your application which major (‘afstudeerrichting’) you are following. You will then be invited for an interview with the RT-coordinator and one of your course coordinators. Grades will be indicative; motivation in seeking to gain information about research for further academic or professional roles is key.

If you have any questions, you can email the course coordinator, prof. dr. mr. drs. J.E.B. Coster van Voorhout: j.e.b.costervanvoorhout@vu.nl.

Overige informatie

The Research Track is an extracurricular programme tailored to motivated students who want to further develop their research skills and/or improve their position on the labour market. You will learn how to conduct academic research. This will help you in deciding whether a career in academia is something for you or help you bring your research experience into another future professional role such as a practicing lawyer or senior advisor. Our experience is that participation in the Research Track broadens your labour market options.

The Research Track (18 EC) consists of three courses: Empirical Research Methods RT (6 EC), Academic Skills RT (6 EC) and Academic Writing Lab RT (6 EC, which count towards the student’s LLM, so not-extracurricular).

The Research Track is a partly extracurricular programme; for two of the three courses. When all components of the track have been completed successfully, the student will receive a certificate and the completion of the Research Track will be noted on the student’s master’s degree. This means that the three courses Empirical Research Skills RT (6 EC), Academic Skills RT (6 EC) and Academic Writing Lab RT (6 EC, which count towards the student’s LLM) will each have to be individually completed with at least a 6.0. Students will not receive a grade for the Research Track as a whole. The 12 ECs for Empirical Research Skills RT (6 EC) and Academic Skills RT (6 EC) cannot be used as elective credit in the regular Master programmes; the 6 EC Academic Writing Lab RT do count towards the student’s regular LLM.

If international students apply for the Research Track, all three courses will be given in English. Our experience is that this is usually the case.