Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
209.5 sec. 1 - Research Design (Spring 2027)
Instructor: Calvin K Morrill (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
W 2:10 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: 2240 Piedmont 102
From January 13, 2027
To April 21, 2027
Course End: April 21, 2027
Class Number: 33265
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 0
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 16
As of: 11/03 03:05 PM
This is an introductory course focusing on how to conceptualize and design socio-legal empirical research projects. Socio-legal "empirical research" includes a broad range of qualitative (including historical) and quantitative inquiry. We will briefly examine the philosophical issues that undergird such research, along with the nuts and bolts of actual research methods. At the end of this course, students should have a good familiarity with a range of research methods (both qualitative and quantitative) as well as a sense of how to think about the kinds of research problems that will occupy the core of a PhD dissertation or a similarly situated research project.
The main intellectual agenda will be to develop a sophisticated and rigorous sense of how to ask and answer a scholarly research question concerning the workings of law and society (broadly understood), using social science and related data. Students should note that this course includes a simulation in which they will be asked to write a research proposal. Students will also be asked to complete smaller writing assignments throughout the course leading up to the final proposal. This is a course primarily designed for PhD students.
Due to the nature of this class, real-time attendance is required (without an alternative way to earn equivalent credit) except in cases of illness or emergency.
Exam Notes: (P) Final Paper
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: Jurisprudence and Social Policy (JSP)
If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment.
Class materials may also be available on bCourses.berkeley.edu
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has not yet confirmed their textbook order, please check back later.