LLAW6022 & JDOC6022
General Course Information
1.1 Course details
Course code: | LLAW6022 / JDOC6022 |
Course name: | Advanced Research Methodology |
Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
Semester: | First |
Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
Credit point value: | 9 credits |
1.2 Course description
The meetings in this introductory course explore the strategies and techniques available for research and writing in doctrinal and empirical legal studies, and the ways in which various research methodologies relate to the different theoretical approaches that inform research. Attention is also given to the manner in which differing research methods are often combined in practice, and to the skills involved in analyzing data and presenting findings. Students are encouraged to see their findings as potentially making contributions to both empirical knowledge and theoretical understanding.
The course teachers consider what research questions can be asked and which research methods might best help to provide answers to such questions. Because law students are generally already more familiar with doctrinal research, so the course gives greater attention to empirical research. Course teachers look at the skills of questionnaire design, interviewing, participant observation, case studies, documentary research, surveys, sampling, ethical correctness and so on.
By the end of this course, students should have developed a strong understanding of how to identify and address research problems, a good awareness of the empirical and doctrinal research methodologies that they might use in their investigation and analysis, and an enhanced ability to design and implement a research project in the field of legal studies.
1.3 Course teachers
Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
Course convenor | Michael Palmer | mp88@hku.hk; mp@soas.ac.uk | CCT 709 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Develop familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods for conducting legal research.
CLO 2 Learn how to ask scholarly research questions concerning the workings of law, using both legal doctrine and social science and related data.
CLO 3 Complete a research proposal including a literature review and overview of methodology.
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
Research proposal | 22 Dec 2022 | 100% | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
*Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
4 | Group review meeting |
5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
Core reading list: | TBA |
Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/