For this edition of the CPP seminar series we're very pleased to welcome Ellie Knott, who will be giving a talk entitled 'Methodologies of Informed Intuition: The Role of Informed Intuition and Intuitive Openness in Political Science'

 Positivist scholars often approach intuition cautiously, as something best avoided or to be approved upon by methodological training. Meanwhile, interpretive scholars typically laud "hunches" as necessary guiding logics. This paper explores the role of informed intuition and argues for acknowledging, recognizing, and legitimizing its role across methodological and epistemic divides. Drawing on understandings of intuition in cognitive psychology and organisational behaviour, this paper conceptualises the importance of learning and feedback where intuition becomes informed intuition. From this conceptualisation, the paper shows how informed intuition plays an important role in 1) logics of research (inductive, deductive, or abductive), and 2) case selection. Overall, this paper argues for an empowered methodological approach to using informed intuition so researchers can make important research decisions, rather than be ashamed of or shy away from its role.