The course is designed for students who recently embarked upon PhD studies and need to enhance their general understanding of methodology and research methods, and the ways in which the theoretical framework and individual research methods may be applied in their research projects.
The course will introduce fundamental concepts, such as ‘theory’, ‘methodology’ and ‘method’, and provide an overview of major research methods commonly used by legal researchers. Apart from the main jurisprudential approaches, the course will also cover modern, critical and interdisciplinary approaches to law. These research approaches and trends will be discussed in the context of international and Danish law.
Course objective:
The main objective of this course is to equip PhD students with the necessary set of skills required to carry out independent research of the highest academic standards. Participants will be advised on designing the theoretical framework of a research project, a variety of methodological approaches to law and their practical application in individual research projects.
Participants will learn how to frame the theoretical foundation of their research project at the early stages of their PhD studies, how to distinguish between ‘methodology’ and ‘method’, and how to identify and choose research methods relevant to their main subject(s) of research inquiry.
Course format:
The two-day course is divided into different parts. The first part of the course covers the use and choice of methodology and individual research methods. The sessions on the main jurisprudential approaches intend to cover the basics of legal research and are relevant to all course participants.
The second part of the course is more tailored to the research interests of individual participants. Based on the areas of research, course participants will be divided into specialised groups on international or Danish law.
The last part of the course consists of group work. PhD students will be divided into various groups, in which they will reflect on the earlier sessions and discuss how the acquired knowledge on methodology and research methods may be applied in their own research projects.
FACULTY OF LAW
UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN
Participants are expected to prepare research outlines in advance that summarise the overall methodological approach towards their PhD thesis and the choice of individual research methods. These outlines will be used throughout the course.
Following the completion of the course, participants are expected to submit a two-page outline of how the methodological foundation of the PhD dissertation may be enhanced (one week after the course at the latest).
Intended learning outcomes:
Following participation in the course, participants will be able to:
• demonstrate an understanding of legal research methodologies and techniques,
• apply such methodologies and techniques within a specific field of research,
• critically reflect upon the chosen methodology and research method(s),
• identify which research methods are most suitable for answering major research questions in their individual projects.
Practical details:
The compilation of reading material will be distributed 4 weeks prior to the course.
The course will offer presentations by distinguished academics specialized in international and Danish law who are affiliated with the Faculty’s research centres or from abroad.
Course Information:
• Address: Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, Studiestræde 6, 1455 Copenhagen K.
• Room details: Meeting room 04-0-12, Building 4, Studiestraede 6, left, ground floor DK-1455 Copenhagen K.
• ECTS: 3 ECTS for participating in a two-day course programme and submitting the required written assignment following the completion of the course.
• Wi-Fi: University of Copenhagen is connected to Eduroam, which allows students, researchers and staff from participating institutions to obtain Internet connectivity across campus and when visiting other participating institutions.
• Registration: No later than 22 September 2014.
Any questions regarding the course may be directed to the course administrator, Aloka Wanigasuriya (aloka@jur.ku.dk).
Course programme
DAY 1
Time
Programme
09:30 – 10:00
Arrival and registration
Coffee, tea and rolls
10:00 – 11:15
Why is Research Methodology Important? Identifying ‘Methodology’ and ‘Method’ for Your Individual Research Project
• Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham.
11:15 - 11:30
Break
Coffee and tea
11:30 – 13:00
Interdisciplinary Research
• Professor Henrik Palmer Olsen, University of Copenhagen.
• Associate Professor Timo Minssen, University of Copenhagen.
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 15:15
Introduction to Traditional Legal Scholarship (Legal Positivism and Natural Law)
• Associate Professor Jakob V.H. Holtermann, University of Copenhagen.
15:15 – 15:30
Break
15:30 – 16:45
Comparative Law Theory
• Associate Professor Christopher David Jenkins, University of Copenhagen.
16:45 - 17:00
Break
Coffee, tea and cake
17:00 - 18:00
Critical Approaches to Legal Research and Theory.
• Dr. Elisabeth Eneroth, Visiting Researcher, University of Copenhagen.
• Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham.
DAY 2
Time
Programme
9:00 – 10:00
Session on Danish Law (In Danish)
Participants will present their PhD projects and reflect on major research questions, their methodology (overall approach) and specific research methods. Each participant is given 15 min to present his/her PhD project, whereas the remaining 15mins will be reserved for discussions and feedback from senior researchers chairing the panel.
• Professor Mikael Rask Madsen, University of Copenhagen.
10:00 – 10:15
Break
Coffee and tea
10:15 – 12:00
Session on International Law
Participants will present their PhD projects and reflect on major research questions, their methodology (overall approach) and specific research methods. Each participant is given 15 min to present his/her PhD project, whereas the remaining 15mins will be reserved for discussions and feedback from senior researchers chairing the panel.
• Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham.
• Professor Mikael Rask Madsen, University of Copenhagen.
12:00 - 13:15
Lunch
13:15 – 14:45
Session on International Law
Participants will present their PhD projects and reflect on major research questions, their methodology (overall approach) and specific research methods. Each participant is given 15 min to present his/her PhD project, whereas the remaining 15mins will be reserved for discussions and feedback from senior researchers chairing the panel.
• Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham.
• Professor Mikael Rask Madsen, University of Copenhagen.
14:45 - 15:00
Break
Coffee, tea and cake
15:00 – 17:00
Group Work (Including an Introduction by Dr. Elisabeth Eneroth on the Use of Empirical Data in Legal Research).
Discussion of the distributed compilation of material in international and Danish law (Was the list of readings relevant to individual research
projects? Did PhD students enhance their understanding of methodology and how it could be applied in their research? Did they identify new methods that could be relevant for their research projects?).
• Associate Professor Iryna Marchuk, University of Copenhagen.

The course is designed for students who recently embarked upon PhD studies and need to enhance their general understanding of methodology and research methods, and the ways in which the theoretical framework and individual research methods may be applied in their research projects. The course will introduce fundamental concepts, such as ‘theory’, ‘methodology’ and ‘method’, and provide an overview of major research methods commonly used by legal researchers. Apart from the main jurisprudential approaches, the course will also cover modern, critical and interdisciplinary approaches to law. These research approaches and trends will be discussed in the context of international and Danish law. Course objective: The main objective of this course is to equip PhD students with the necessary set of skills required to carry out independent research of the highest academic standards. Participants will be advised on designing the theoretical framework of a research project, a variety of methodological approaches to law and their practical application in individual research projects. Participants will learn how to frame the theoretical foundation of their research project at the early stages of their PhD studies, how to distinguish between ‘methodology’ and ‘method’, and how to identify and choose research methods relevant to their main subject(s) of research inquiry. Course format: The two-day course is divided into different parts. The first part of the course covers the use and choice of methodology and individual research methods. The sessions on the main jurisprudential approaches intend to cover the basics of legal research and are relevant to all course participants. The second part of the course is more tailored to the research interests of individual participants. Based on the areas of research, course participants will be divided into specialised groups on international or Danish law. The last part of the course consists of group work. PhD students will be divided into various groups, in which they will reflect on the earlier sessions and discuss how the acquired knowledge on methodology and research methods may be applied in their own research projects. FACULTY OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN Participants are expected to prepare research outlines in advance that summarise the overall methodological approach towards their PhD thesis and the choice of individual research methods. These outlines will be used throughout the course. Following the completion of the course, participants are expected to submit a two-page outline of how the methodological foundation of the PhD dissertation may be enhanced (one week after the course at the latest). Intended learning outcomes: Following participation in the course, participants will be able to: • demonstrate an understanding of legal research methodologies and techniques, • apply such methodologies and techniques within a specific field of research, • critically reflect upon the chosen methodology and research method(s), • identify which research methods are most suitable for answering major research questions in their individual projects. Practical details: The compilation of reading material will be distributed 4 weeks prior to the course. The course will offer presentations by distinguished academics specialized in international and Danish law who are affiliated with the Faculty’s research centres or from abroad. Course Information: • Address: Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, Studiestræde 6, 1455 Copenhagen K. • Room details: Meeting room 04-0-12, Building 4, Studiestraede 6, left, ground floor DK-1455 Copenhagen K. • ECTS: 3 ECTS for participating in a two-day course programme and submitting the required written assignment following the completion of the course. • Wi-Fi: University of Copenhagen is connected to Eduroam, which allows students, researchers and staff from participating institutions to obtain Internet connectivity across campus and when visiting other participating institutions. • Registration: No later than 22 September 2014. Any questions regarding the course may be directed to the course administrator, Aloka Wanigasuriya (aloka@jur.ku.dk). Course programme DAY 1 Time Programme 09:30 – 10:00 Arrival and registration Coffee, tea and rolls 10:00 – 11:15 Why is Research Methodology Important? Identifying ‘Methodology’ and ‘Method’ for Your Individual Research Project • Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham. 11:15 - 11:30 Break Coffee and tea 11:30 – 13:00 Interdisciplinary Research • Professor Henrik Palmer Olsen, University of Copenhagen. • Associate Professor Timo Minssen, University of Copenhagen. 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 15:15 Introduction to Traditional Legal Scholarship (Legal Positivism and Natural Law) • Associate Professor Jakob V.H. Holtermann, University of Copenhagen. 15:15 – 15:30 Break 15:30 – 16:45 Comparative Law Theory • Associate Professor Christopher David Jenkins, University of Copenhagen. 16:45 - 17:00 Break Coffee, tea and cake 17:00 - 18:00 Critical Approaches to Legal Research and Theory. • Dr. Elisabeth Eneroth, Visiting Researcher, University of Copenhagen. • Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham. DAY 2 Time Programme 9:00 – 10:00 Session on Danish Law (In Danish) Participants will present their PhD projects and reflect on major research questions, their methodology (overall approach) and specific research methods. Each participant is given 15 min to present his/her PhD project, whereas the remaining 15mins will be reserved for discussions and feedback from senior researchers chairing the panel. • Professor Mikael Rask Madsen, University of Copenhagen. 10:00 – 10:15 Break Coffee and tea 10:15 – 12:00 Session on International Law Participants will present their PhD projects and reflect on major research questions, their methodology (overall approach) and specific research methods. Each participant is given 15 min to present his/her PhD project, whereas the remaining 15mins will be reserved for discussions and feedback from senior researchers chairing the panel. • Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham. • Professor Mikael Rask Madsen, University of Copenhagen. 12:00 - 13:15 Lunch 13:15 – 14:45 Session on International Law Participants will present their PhD projects and reflect on major research questions, their methodology (overall approach) and specific research methods. Each participant is given 15 min to present his/her PhD project, whereas the remaining 15mins will be reserved for discussions and feedback from senior researchers chairing the panel. • Professor Robert Cryer, University of Birmingham. • Professor Mikael Rask Madsen, University of Copenhagen. 14:45 - 15:00 Break Coffee, tea and cake 15:00 – 17:00 Group Work (Including an Introduction by Dr. Elisabeth Eneroth on the Use of Empirical Data in Legal Research). Discussion of the distributed compilation of material in international and Danish law (Was the list of readings relevant to individual research projects? Did PhD students enhance their understanding of methodology and how it could be applied in their research? Did they identify new methods that could be relevant for their research projects?). • Associate Professor Iryna Marchuk, University of Copenhagen.