August 1

How do you choose a line of inquiry? Once you define it, how do you move from project to project in a way that produces a broad and cohesive foundation of evidence?

Drawing on the experiences of two senior scholars with successful careers in the social sciences, this course provides a series of strategies for navigating a set of complex decisions that arise as you define and evolve your research trajectory.

Complex decisions that shape research trajectories include:

• Choosing a meaningful line of inquiry
• Understanding prior research and foundational work in a scholar’s field or discipline, and establishing how your contributions fit with this work.
• Shaping and refining effective research questions and study designs
• Integrating flexible and innovative research methodologies
• Balancing current projects with strategic planning for future research

These discussions emphasize the critical work that occurs before, during, and between research projects. This course empowers scholars to build a body of evidence characterized by depth, continuity, and impact beyond what would be possible through isolated projects.