Introduction to scientific legal research (2009) - a practical and methodological instruction for doctoral students - |
18.02.13 |
Contribution to the doctoral study course "Tiesību integrācija Eiropā" / "The Integration of Law in Europe", Autumn Semester 2009. Thursday, 01.10., 08.10., 15.10 and 22.10., 16.30 - 20.00, room 452 |
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This contribution is the first part of the doctoral study course "Tiesību integrācija Eiropā" / "The Integration of Law in Europe" / "Rechtsintegration in Europa" which is part of the doctoral studies program in 2009/2010. It deals with the basic idea of scientific legal research and with the standards and requirements for a scientific thesis in the field of law, but also with practical issues, steps and stages and strategies for a successful thesis project.
Conditions: In order to get the credit points for this part of the doctoral studies program, participants are required to pass a written examination.
Downloads (PDF files)
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Contents (in English/German) |
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Bibliography (also available in German) |
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Materials concerning § 1 of the course (also available in German) |
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Materials concerning § 2 of the course (also available in German) |
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Materials concerning § 3 of the course (also available in German) |
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Materials concerning § 4 of the course (also available in German) |
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Overview: Informations on legal literature in the internet (also available in German) |
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Test (kontroldarbs) (in English and German) |
Contents (summary/details)
§ 1 The doctoral thesis in legal science
What ist a scientific thesis?
Why should I write a scientific thesis?
What are the costs and dangers of a thesis project?
§ 2 The steps and stages of a thesis project
Project planning and determination of the subject
Familiarization with the subject and the relevant law
Gathering and management of informations and materials
Thorough scientific reflection and outline of the thesis
Writing down of the thesis
Final review of the thesis
§ 3 Intellectual standards for a scientific thesis
Standards of intellectual authenticity and originality
Standards of intellectual accuracy, consistency and precision
Standards of intellectual thoroughness
§ 4 Formal standards for a scientific thesis
Introduction
The formal structure of the thesis
The scientific style of writing
The art of scientific quoting
The formatting of the scientific text
Other formal standards
[A. General introductions] [B. Introductions to scientific style] [C. Introductions to scientific legal research] [D. Practical guides for thesis project] [E. Practical guides on special aspects]
A. General introductios to scientific research
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Balzert, Helmut von; Kern, Uwe; Schäfer, Christian; Schröder, Marion: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Wissenschaft, Quellen, Artefakte, Organisation, Präsentation, 2008 |
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Dunleavy, Patrick: Authoring a PhD. How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation, 2003 |
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Franck, Norbert: Handbuch Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten, 2nd edition 2007 |
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Oliver, Paul: Writing Your Thesis, 2nd edition 2008 |
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Theisen, Manuel: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Technik - Methodik - Form, 14th edition 2008 |
B. Introductions to the scientific style of writing
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Andermann, Ulrich; Drees, Martin; Grätz, Frank: Duden - Wie verfasst man wissenschaftliche Arbeiten? Ein Leitfaden für das Studium und die Promotion, 3rd edition 2006 |
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Davis, Martha: Scientific Papers and Presentations, 2005 |
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Haft, Fritjof: Juristische Schreibschule. Anleitung zum strukturierten Schreiben, 2009 |
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Jele, Harald: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten: Zitieren, 2nd edition 2006 |
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Lehmann, Günter: So schreibt und präsentiert man wissenschaftliche Arbeiten, 2nd edition 2006 |
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Leopold-Wildburger, Ulrike; Schütze, Jörg : Verfassen und Vortragen. Wissenschaftliche Arbeiten und Vorträge leicht gemacht, 2002 |
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Peat, Jennifer; Elliott, Elizabeth; Baur, Louise; Keena, Victoria: Scientific Writing. Easy when you know how, 2002 |
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Vollmer, Hans: Die Doktorarbeit schreiben. Strukturebenen - Stilmittel - Textentwicklung, 2nd edition 2008 |
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Yang, Jen Tsi: An Outline of Scientific Writing. For Researchers with English as a Foreign Language, 1995 |
C. Introductions to scientific legal research
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Butzer, Hermann; Epping, Volker: Arbeitstechnik im öffentlichen Recht. Vom Sachverhalt zur Lösung. Methodik – Technik – Materialerschließung, 3rd edition 2005 |
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Update 2012: Holznagel, Bernd; Schumacher, Pascal; Ricke, Thorsten: Juristische Arbeitstechniken und Methoden. Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten für Juristen in Zeiten des Internets, 2012 |
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Kerschner, Ferdinand: Wissenschaftliche Arbeitstechnik und Methodenlehre für Juristen. Leitfaden für juristische Seminar-, Diplom-, Master- und Bakkalaureatsarbeiten, Dissertationen und wissenschaftliche Artikel, 5th edition 2006 |
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Möllers, Thomas: Juristische Arbeitstechnik und wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Klausur, Hausarbeit, Seminar- und Studienarbeit, Staatsexamen, Dissertation, 4th edition 2008 |
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Romi, Raphaël: Méthodologie de la recherche en droit : Master et doctorat, 2006 |
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Schwacke, Peter: Juristische Methodik. Mit Technik der Fallbearbeitung, 4th edition 2003 |
See also the extensive literature on legal methodology.
D. Practical guides for a successful thesis project
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Brauner, Detlef; Vollmer, Hans: Erfolgreiches wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Seminararbeit - Diplomarbeit - Doktorarbeit, 3rd edition 2008 |
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Burton, Suzan; Steane, Peter (editors): Surviving your thesis, 2004 |
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Eco, Umberto: Come si fa una tesi di laurea: le materie umanistiche, 17th edition 2005 / Kā uzrakstīt diplomdarbu: humanitārās zinātnes, 2006 / Wie man eine wissenschaftliche Abschlussarbeit schreibt: Doktor-, Diplom- und Magisterarbeit in den Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften, 12th edition 2007 |
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Finn, John A.: Getting a PhD: An Action Plan to Help You Manage Your Research, Your Supervisor and Your Project, 2005 |
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Glatthorn, Allan A.; Joyner, Randy L.: Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation. A Step-by-Step-Guide, 2nd edition 2005 |
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Herrmann, Dieter; Verse-Herrmann, Angela: Geld fürs Studium und die Doktorarbeit. Wer fördert was?, 2006 |
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Nünning, Ansgar; Sommer, Roy (editors): Handbuch Promotion. Forschung - Förderung - Finanzierung, 2007 |
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Knigge-Illner, Helga: Der Weg zum Doktortitel. Strategien für die erfolgreiche Promotion, 2nd edition 2009 |
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Messing, Barbara; Huber, Klaus P: Die Doktorarbeit - Vom Start zum Ziel. Lei(d)tfaden für Promotionswillige, 4th edition 2007 |
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Münch, Ingo von: Promotion, 3rd edition 2006 |
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Preißner, Andreas; Engel, Stefan; Albert, Bernhard; Neeb, Christoph: Promotionsratgeber, 4th edition 2000 |
E. Practical guides on special aspects
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Jürgens, Kai: Wie veröffentliche ich meine Doktorarbeit? Der sichere Weg zum eigenen Buch, 2007 |
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Nicol, Natascha; Albrecht, Ralf: Wissenschaftliche Arbeiten schreiben mit Word 2007. Formvollendete und normgerechte Examens-, Diplom- und Doktorarbeiten, 2007 |
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Sesink, Werner: Einführung in das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten. Internet, Textverarbeitung, Präsentation, 7th edition 2007 |
A. Links concerning the general subject of the course
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John W. Chinneck (Ottawa), How to Organize your Thesis |
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Mark C. Griffin, Writing the Thesis |
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Joe Wolfe (Sydney), How to write a PhD Thesis |
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Timo Salmi (Vaasa, Finland), Stages of the Doctoral Process |
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School of Graduate Studies (Huntsville, USA), Thesis and Dissertation Manual |
B. Informations on legal literature in the internet (concerning § 2 III)
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Online catalogues of legal literature for sale: amazon US (American literature), amazon UK (British literature), amazon Germany (German literature), amazon France (French literature), Verzeichnis lieferbarer Bücher (literature in German language or published in Germany, Austria, Switzerland) |
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Online catalogues and databases of libraries: Libraries in Rīga: Latvijas Universitātes Bibliotēka, Latvijas Akadēmiskā Bibliotēka, library of the RGSL; National libraries: Latvijas Nacionālā Bibliotēka (Rīga), Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris), British Library (London), Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig), Library of Congress (Washington), comprehensive list of European national libraries; Law libraries with a focus on comparative and international law: Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht (Hamburg), Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Strafrecht (Freiburg), Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht (Heidelberg), Max-Planck-Institut für Sozialrecht und Sozialpolitik (Munich), Max-Planck-Institut für europäische Rechtsgeschichte (Frankfurt); Catalogues of American law libraries |
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Metacatalogues (integrated search in various library catalogues): Karlsruher Virtueller Katalog (integrated search in all important German, Austrian and Suisse catalogues and in the most important library catalogues throughout the world, Univ. of Karlsruhe); Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, (search engine for online publications), Copac (merged British and Irish catalogues), SUDOC (merged French catalogues), Internet Culturale (merged Italian catalogues), Virtuelle Fachbibliothek Recht (metacatalogue project of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin) |
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Specialised databases: RAVE (database on jurisprudence and articles on public international law and European law 1998 - 2005, Univ. of Düsseldorf), European Integration Current Contents (database on articles on European law, NYU School of Law), Leitsatzkartei des deutschen Rechts (connercial database on articles published in German law journals, edited by the publishing house C.H. Beck); see also the references at the Virtuelle Fachbibliothek Recht |
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Computer software for literature management: EndNote, RefWorks, Book Collector, JabRef; Citavi, Librixx, Buchliebhaber, Bibliographix, LitLink, VisualComposer, Liman; test report from 2006 (Joachim Eberhardt) |