Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science

Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science

Author: Stephen Van Evera

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 2015-04-15

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 0801454441

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"Stephen Van Evera's Guide to Methods makes an important contribution toward improving the use of case studies for theory development and testing in the social sciences. His trenchant and concise views on issues ranging from epistemology to specific research techniques manage to convey not only the methods but the ethos of research. This book is essential reading for social science students at all levels who aspire to conduct rigorous research."—Alexander L. George, Stanford University, and Andrew Bennett, Georgetown University "Van Evera has a keen awareness of the questions that arise in every phase of the political science research project—from initial conception to final presentation. Although others may not agree with all of his specific advice, all will appreciate his user-friendly introduction to what is sometimes seen as an abstract and difficult topic."—Timothy J. McKeown, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill For the last few years, Stephen Van Evera has greeted new graduate students at MIT with a commonsense introduction to qualitative methods in the social sciences. His helpful hints, always warmly received, grew from a handful of memos to an underground classic primer. That primer has now evolved into a book of how-to information about graduate study, which is essential reading for graduate students and undergraduates in political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, and history—and for their advisers.


Book Synopsis Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science by : Stephen Van Evera

Download or read book Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science written by Stephen Van Evera and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2015-04-15 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Stephen Van Evera's Guide to Methods makes an important contribution toward improving the use of case studies for theory development and testing in the social sciences. His trenchant and concise views on issues ranging from epistemology to specific research techniques manage to convey not only the methods but the ethos of research. This book is essential reading for social science students at all levels who aspire to conduct rigorous research."—Alexander L. George, Stanford University, and Andrew Bennett, Georgetown University "Van Evera has a keen awareness of the questions that arise in every phase of the political science research project—from initial conception to final presentation. Although others may not agree with all of his specific advice, all will appreciate his user-friendly introduction to what is sometimes seen as an abstract and difficult topic."—Timothy J. McKeown, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill For the last few years, Stephen Van Evera has greeted new graduate students at MIT with a commonsense introduction to qualitative methods in the social sciences. His helpful hints, always warmly received, grew from a handful of memos to an underground classic primer. That primer has now evolved into a book of how-to information about graduate study, which is essential reading for graduate students and undergraduates in political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, and history—and for their advisers.

Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science

Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science

Author: Stephen Van Evera

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 1997-09-04

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9780801484575

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Stephen Van Evera greeted new graduate students at MIT with a commonsense introduction to qualitative methods in the social sciences. His helpful hints, always warmly received, grew from a handful of memos to an underground classic primer. That primer evolved into a book of how-to information about graduate study, which is essential reading for graduate students and undergraduates in political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, and history—and for their advisers. •How should we frame, assess, and apply theories in the social sciences? "I am unpersuaded by the view that the prime rules of scientific method should differ between hard science and social science. Science is science." •A section on case studies shows novices the ropes. •Van Evera contends the realm of dissertations is often defined too narrowly “Making and testing theories are not the only games in town. . . . If everyone makes and tests theories but no one ever uses them, then what are they for?" •In "Helpful Hints on Writing a Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation," Van Evera focuses on presentation, and on broader issues of academic strategy and tactics. •Van Evera asks how political scientists should work together as a community. “All institutions and professions that face weak accountability need inner ethical rudders that define their obligations in order to stay on course."


Book Synopsis Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science by : Stephen Van Evera

Download or read book Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science written by Stephen Van Evera and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 1997-09-04 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stephen Van Evera greeted new graduate students at MIT with a commonsense introduction to qualitative methods in the social sciences. His helpful hints, always warmly received, grew from a handful of memos to an underground classic primer. That primer evolved into a book of how-to information about graduate study, which is essential reading for graduate students and undergraduates in political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, and history—and for their advisers. •How should we frame, assess, and apply theories in the social sciences? "I am unpersuaded by the view that the prime rules of scientific method should differ between hard science and social science. Science is science." •A section on case studies shows novices the ropes. •Van Evera contends the realm of dissertations is often defined too narrowly “Making and testing theories are not the only games in town. . . . If everyone makes and tests theories but no one ever uses them, then what are they for?" •In "Helpful Hints on Writing a Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation," Van Evera focuses on presentation, and on broader issues of academic strategy and tactics. •Van Evera asks how political scientists should work together as a community. “All institutions and professions that face weak accountability need inner ethical rudders that define their obligations in order to stay on course."

Thinking Like a Political Scientist

Thinking Like a Political Scientist

Author: Christopher Howard

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2017-03-07

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 022632768X

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“A compelling case for transforming how research methods are taught to undergraduate students of political science.” —London School of Economics Review of Books Each year, tens of thousands of students who are interested in politics go through a rite of passage: they take a course in research methods. Many find the subject to be boring or confusing, and with good reason. Most of the standard books on research methods fail to highlight the most important concepts and questions. Instead, they brim with dry technical definitions and focus heavily on statistical analysis, slighting other valuable methods. This approach prevents students from mastering the skills they need to engage more directly and meaningfully with a wide variety of research. With wit and practical wisdom, Christopher Howard draws on more than a decade of experience teaching research methods to transform a typically dreary subject and teach budding political scientists the critical skills they need to read published research more effectively and produce better research of their own. The first part of the book is devoted to asking three fundamental questions in political science: What happened? Why? Who cares? In the second section, Howard demonstrates how to answer these questions by choosing an appropriate research design, selecting cases, and working with numbers and written documents as evidence. Drawing on examples from American and comparative politics, international relations, and public policy, Thinking Like a Political Scientist highlights the most common challenges that political scientists routinely face, and each chapter concludes with exercises so that students can practice dealing with those challenges.


Book Synopsis Thinking Like a Political Scientist by : Christopher Howard

Download or read book Thinking Like a Political Scientist written by Christopher Howard and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2017-03-07 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A compelling case for transforming how research methods are taught to undergraduate students of political science.” —London School of Economics Review of Books Each year, tens of thousands of students who are interested in politics go through a rite of passage: they take a course in research methods. Many find the subject to be boring or confusing, and with good reason. Most of the standard books on research methods fail to highlight the most important concepts and questions. Instead, they brim with dry technical definitions and focus heavily on statistical analysis, slighting other valuable methods. This approach prevents students from mastering the skills they need to engage more directly and meaningfully with a wide variety of research. With wit and practical wisdom, Christopher Howard draws on more than a decade of experience teaching research methods to transform a typically dreary subject and teach budding political scientists the critical skills they need to read published research more effectively and produce better research of their own. The first part of the book is devoted to asking three fundamental questions in political science: What happened? Why? Who cares? In the second section, Howard demonstrates how to answer these questions by choosing an appropriate research design, selecting cases, and working with numbers and written documents as evidence. Drawing on examples from American and comparative politics, international relations, and public policy, Thinking Like a Political Scientist highlights the most common challenges that political scientists routinely face, and each chapter concludes with exercises so that students can practice dealing with those challenges.

Writing a Research Paper in Political Science

Writing a Research Paper in Political Science

Author: Lisa A. Baglione

Publisher: CQ Press

Published: 2018-12-31

Total Pages: 282

ISBN-13: 1506367437

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Even students capable of writing excellent essays still find their first major political science research paper an intimidating experience. Crafting the right research question, finding good sources, properly summarizing them, operationalizing concepts and designing good tests for their hypotheses, presenting and analyzing quantitative as well as qualitative data are all tough-going without a great deal of guidance and encouragement. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science breaks down the research paper into its constituent parts and shows students what they need to do at each stage to successfully complete each component until the paper is finished. Practical summaries, recipes for success, worksheets, exercises, and a series of handy checklists make this a must-have supplement for any writing-intensive political science course.


Book Synopsis Writing a Research Paper in Political Science by : Lisa A. Baglione

Download or read book Writing a Research Paper in Political Science written by Lisa A. Baglione and published by CQ Press. This book was released on 2018-12-31 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Even students capable of writing excellent essays still find their first major political science research paper an intimidating experience. Crafting the right research question, finding good sources, properly summarizing them, operationalizing concepts and designing good tests for their hypotheses, presenting and analyzing quantitative as well as qualitative data are all tough-going without a great deal of guidance and encouragement. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science breaks down the research paper into its constituent parts and shows students what they need to do at each stage to successfully complete each component until the paper is finished. Practical summaries, recipes for success, worksheets, exercises, and a series of handy checklists make this a must-have supplement for any writing-intensive political science course.

Doing Research in Political Science

Doing Research in Political Science

Author: Paul Pennings

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2005-11-11

Total Pages: 336

ISBN-13: 1446226905

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This is an immensely helpful book for students starting their own research... an excellent introduction to the comparative method giving an authoritative overview over the research process - Klaus Armingeon, University of Bern Doing Research in Political Science is the book for mastering the comparative method in all the social sciences - Jan-Erik Lane, University of Geneva This book has established itself as a concise and well-readable text on comparative methods and statistics in political science I...strongly recommend it. - Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Philipps-University Marburg This thoroughly revised edition of the popular textbook offers an accessible but comprehensive introduction to comparative research methods and statistics for students of political science. Clearly organized around three parts, the text introduces the main theories and methodologies used in the discipline. Part 1 frames the comparative approach within the methodological framework of the political and social sciences. Part 2 introduces basic descriptive and inferential statistical methods as well as more advanced multivariate methods used in quantitative political analysis. Part 3 applies the methods and techniques of Parts 1 & 2 to research questions drawn from contemporary themes and issues in political science. Incorporating practice exercises, ideas for further reading and summary questions throughout, Doing Research in Political Science provides an invaluable step-by-step guide for students and researchers in political science, comparative politics and empirical political analysis.


Book Synopsis Doing Research in Political Science by : Paul Pennings

Download or read book Doing Research in Political Science written by Paul Pennings and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2005-11-11 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an immensely helpful book for students starting their own research... an excellent introduction to the comparative method giving an authoritative overview over the research process - Klaus Armingeon, University of Bern Doing Research in Political Science is the book for mastering the comparative method in all the social sciences - Jan-Erik Lane, University of Geneva This book has established itself as a concise and well-readable text on comparative methods and statistics in political science I...strongly recommend it. - Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Philipps-University Marburg This thoroughly revised edition of the popular textbook offers an accessible but comprehensive introduction to comparative research methods and statistics for students of political science. Clearly organized around three parts, the text introduces the main theories and methodologies used in the discipline. Part 1 frames the comparative approach within the methodological framework of the political and social sciences. Part 2 introduces basic descriptive and inferential statistical methods as well as more advanced multivariate methods used in quantitative political analysis. Part 3 applies the methods and techniques of Parts 1 & 2 to research questions drawn from contemporary themes and issues in political science. Incorporating practice exercises, ideas for further reading and summary questions throughout, Doing Research in Political Science provides an invaluable step-by-step guide for students and researchers in political science, comparative politics and empirical political analysis.

Understanding Political Science Research Methods

Understanding Political Science Research Methods

Author: Maryann Barakso

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-12-04

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 113662239X

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This text starts by explaining the fundamental goal of good political science research—the ability to answer interesting and important questions by generating valid inferences about political phenomena. Before the text even discusses the process of developing a research question, the authors introduce the reader to what it means to make an inference and the different challenges that social scientists face when confronting this task. Only with this ultimate goal in mind will students be able to ask appropriate questions, conduct fruitful literature reviews, select and execute the proper research design, and critically evaluate the work of others. The authors' primary goal is to teach students to critically evaluate their own research designs and others’ and analyze the extent to which they overcome the classic challenges to making inference: internal and external validity concerns, omitted variable bias, endogeneity, measurement, sampling, and case selection errors, and poor research questions or theory. As such, students will not only be better able to conduct political science research, but they will also be more savvy consumers of the constant flow of causal assertions that they confront in scholarship, in the media, and in conversations with others. Three themes run through Barakso, Sabet, and Schaffner’s text: minimizing classic research problems to making valid inferences, effective presentation of research results, and the nonlinear nature of the research process. Throughout their academic years and later in their professional careers, students will need to effectively convey various bits of information. Presentation skills gleaned from this text will benefit students for a lifetime, whether they continue in academia or in a professional career. Several distinctive features make this book noteworthy: A common set of examples threaded throughout the text give students a common ground across chapters and expose them to a broad range of subfields in the discipline. Box features throughout the book illustrate the nonlinear, "non-textbook" reality of research, demonstrate the often false inferences and poor social science in the way the popular press covers politics, and encourage students to think about ethical issues at various stages of the research process.


Book Synopsis Understanding Political Science Research Methods by : Maryann Barakso

Download or read book Understanding Political Science Research Methods written by Maryann Barakso and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-12-04 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This text starts by explaining the fundamental goal of good political science research—the ability to answer interesting and important questions by generating valid inferences about political phenomena. Before the text even discusses the process of developing a research question, the authors introduce the reader to what it means to make an inference and the different challenges that social scientists face when confronting this task. Only with this ultimate goal in mind will students be able to ask appropriate questions, conduct fruitful literature reviews, select and execute the proper research design, and critically evaluate the work of others. The authors' primary goal is to teach students to critically evaluate their own research designs and others’ and analyze the extent to which they overcome the classic challenges to making inference: internal and external validity concerns, omitted variable bias, endogeneity, measurement, sampling, and case selection errors, and poor research questions or theory. As such, students will not only be better able to conduct political science research, but they will also be more savvy consumers of the constant flow of causal assertions that they confront in scholarship, in the media, and in conversations with others. Three themes run through Barakso, Sabet, and Schaffner’s text: minimizing classic research problems to making valid inferences, effective presentation of research results, and the nonlinear nature of the research process. Throughout their academic years and later in their professional careers, students will need to effectively convey various bits of information. Presentation skills gleaned from this text will benefit students for a lifetime, whether they continue in academia or in a professional career. Several distinctive features make this book noteworthy: A common set of examples threaded throughout the text give students a common ground across chapters and expose them to a broad range of subfields in the discipline. Box features throughout the book illustrate the nonlinear, "non-textbook" reality of research, demonstrate the often false inferences and poor social science in the way the popular press covers politics, and encourage students to think about ethical issues at various stages of the research process.

Empirical Research and Writing

Empirical Research and Writing

Author: Leanne C. Powner

Publisher: CQ Press

Published: 2014-11-04

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 1483370666

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Students can easily misstep when they first begin to do research. Leanne C. Powner’s new title Empirical Research and Writing: A Student′s Practical Guide provides valuable advice and guidance on conducting and writing about empirical research. Chapter by chapter, students are guided through the key steps in the research process. Written in a lively and engaging manner and with a dose of humor, this practical text shows students exactly how to choose a research topic, conduct a literature review, make research design decisions, collect and analyze data, and then write up and present the results. The book′s approachable style and just-in-time information delivery make it a text students will want to read, and its wide-ranging and surprisingly sophisticated coverage will make it an important resource for their later coursework.


Book Synopsis Empirical Research and Writing by : Leanne C. Powner

Download or read book Empirical Research and Writing written by Leanne C. Powner and published by CQ Press. This book was released on 2014-11-04 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Students can easily misstep when they first begin to do research. Leanne C. Powner’s new title Empirical Research and Writing: A Student′s Practical Guide provides valuable advice and guidance on conducting and writing about empirical research. Chapter by chapter, students are guided through the key steps in the research process. Written in a lively and engaging manner and with a dose of humor, this practical text shows students exactly how to choose a research topic, conduct a literature review, make research design decisions, collect and analyze data, and then write up and present the results. The book′s approachable style and just-in-time information delivery make it a text students will want to read, and its wide-ranging and surprisingly sophisticated coverage will make it an important resource for their later coursework.

Political Science Research Methods

Political Science Research Methods

Author: Janet Buttolph Johnson

Publisher: CQ Press

Published: 2015-08-24

Total Pages: 657

ISBN-13: 1506307817

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Understand the “how” and the “why” behind research in political science. Step by step, Political Science Research Methods walks students through the logic of research design, carefully explaining how researchers choose which method to employ. The Eighth Edition of this trusted resource offers a greater emphasis on the ways in which particular methods are used by undergraduates, expanded coverage of the role of the Internet in research and analysis, and more international examples. Practice makes perfect. In the new fourth edition of the accompanying workbook, Working with Political Science Research Methods, students are given the perfect opportunity to practice each of the methods presented in the core text. This helpful supplement breaks each aspect of the research process into manageable parts and features new exercises and updated data sets. A solutions manual with answers to the workbook is available to adopters.


Book Synopsis Political Science Research Methods by : Janet Buttolph Johnson

Download or read book Political Science Research Methods written by Janet Buttolph Johnson and published by CQ Press. This book was released on 2015-08-24 with total page 657 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understand the “how” and the “why” behind research in political science. Step by step, Political Science Research Methods walks students through the logic of research design, carefully explaining how researchers choose which method to employ. The Eighth Edition of this trusted resource offers a greater emphasis on the ways in which particular methods are used by undergraduates, expanded coverage of the role of the Internet in research and analysis, and more international examples. Practice makes perfect. In the new fourth edition of the accompanying workbook, Working with Political Science Research Methods, students are given the perfect opportunity to practice each of the methods presented in the core text. This helpful supplement breaks each aspect of the research process into manageable parts and features new exercises and updated data sets. A solutions manual with answers to the workbook is available to adopters.

Political Research

Political Research

Author: Sandra Halperin

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2020-04

Total Pages: 529

ISBN-13: 0198820623

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Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills, the market leading textbook in political research methods, is essential reading for students taking a module in research methods as part of a politics or international relations degree. Its accessible, step-by-step approach covers the entire research methods process, equipping students with the necessary skills to successfully conduct their own independent study and research. With coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods, the book begins by guiding readers on how to come up with a research question, and leads the reader right through to writing up a final report. The book also includes chapters on theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science, which are fully revised for the third edition to include up-to-date 'real world' examples, such as Gerber and Green's survey on political attitudes or Wantchekon's study on clientelism in Benin. These sections help students to understand essential debates around research methods, as well as sharing practical guidance. The easy to understand language and straightforward approach of Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills help students get to grips with particularly complex topics relating to epistemological, ontological and mythological research, and quantitative questions such as 'what is data?'. The third edition reflects key areas of development in the field, such as the increased importance of ethics, and changes in digital research. The book is also enhanced with a range of engaging learning features including chapter summaries, end-of-chapter conclusions and questions, and a guide to further reading, created to reinforce students' understanding of research methods and further explore specific approaches to research.


Book Synopsis Political Research by : Sandra Halperin

Download or read book Political Research written by Sandra Halperin and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2020-04 with total page 529 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills, the market leading textbook in political research methods, is essential reading for students taking a module in research methods as part of a politics or international relations degree. Its accessible, step-by-step approach covers the entire research methods process, equipping students with the necessary skills to successfully conduct their own independent study and research. With coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods, the book begins by guiding readers on how to come up with a research question, and leads the reader right through to writing up a final report. The book also includes chapters on theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science, which are fully revised for the third edition to include up-to-date 'real world' examples, such as Gerber and Green's survey on political attitudes or Wantchekon's study on clientelism in Benin. These sections help students to understand essential debates around research methods, as well as sharing practical guidance. The easy to understand language and straightforward approach of Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills help students get to grips with particularly complex topics relating to epistemological, ontological and mythological research, and quantitative questions such as 'what is data?'. The third edition reflects key areas of development in the field, such as the increased importance of ethics, and changes in digital research. The book is also enhanced with a range of engaging learning features including chapter summaries, end-of-chapter conclusions and questions, and a guide to further reading, created to reinforce students' understanding of research methods and further explore specific approaches to research.

Teaching Research Methods in Political Science

Teaching Research Methods in Political Science

Author: Jeffrey L. Bernstein

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2021-06-25

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1839101210

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Teaching Research Methods in Political Science brings together experienced instructors to offer a range of perspectives on how to teach courses in political science. It focuses on numerous topics, including identifying good research questions, measuring key concepts, writing literature reviews and developing information literacy skills.


Book Synopsis Teaching Research Methods in Political Science by : Jeffrey L. Bernstein

Download or read book Teaching Research Methods in Political Science written by Jeffrey L. Bernstein and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2021-06-25 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Teaching Research Methods in Political Science brings together experienced instructors to offer a range of perspectives on how to teach courses in political science. It focuses on numerous topics, including identifying good research questions, measuring key concepts, writing literature reviews and developing information literacy skills.