Webinar to Teach Research Design in Politics and International Relations

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Anouk S. Rigterink of the University of Durham and Mareike Schomerus, vice president of the Kenya-based research institute Bursara and a visiting lecturer at the University of Chicago, will host a free webinar on teaching research methods in Politics and International Relations. The webinar will focus on strategies for helping students make coherent choices when doing research projects, reflect the methodological diversity in the field beyond the quant-qual divide, and introduce students to knowledge hierarchies without assigning blame.

Why it matters

Teaching research methods is a critical part of training the next generation of political scientists and international relations scholars, but students often struggle with anxiety and lack of enthusiasm. This webinar aims to share innovative approaches to make research methods education more empowering and engaging for students.

The details

The webinar, part of Sage's Politics Webinar series, will be led by Anouk S. Rigterink, an associate professor in quantitative comparative politics at the University of Durham, and Mareike Schomerus, vice president of the Kenya-based research institute Bursara and a visiting lecturer at the University of Chicago. Rigterink and Schomerus are the authors of the newly published textbook "Research Design in Politics and International Relations". Their teaching philosophy puts student reality at the center, challenging students to break down research into manageable choices, acknowledging the doubts and difficulties that come with research, and encouraging students to think about how their approach to creating knowledge can break down existing hierarchies.

• The webinar will take place on March 12, 2026 at 3:51 PM.

What’s next

The webinar is free and open to the public. Interested parties can register on the Sage website.