How do I determine my research question? How do I answer my research question? What is data? How do I conduct research in an ethical way?
Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to answer questions such as these. Using a step-by-step approach, the authors guide you through the process of asking and answering research questions, and the different methods used in political science. With coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors provide advice on how to be critical, rigorous and ethical when both evaluating research findings and conducting your own independent research.
The book emphasises how research can impact our ability to answer important political questions, and helps you to learn how to formulate significant questions, make sense of conflicting arguments, and develop your research skills.
Les mer
The most accessible and practical guide to research methods written especially for politics and international relations students.
1: Political Research
PART I: PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE: KNOWLEDGE AND KNOWING IN SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
2: Forms of Knowledge: Laws, Explanation, and Interpretation in the Study of the Social World
3: Objectivity and Values
PART II: HOW TO DO RESEARCH: AN OVERVIEW
4: Asking Questions: How to Find and Formulate Research Questions
5: Finding Answers: Theories and How to Apply Them
6: Research Design
7: What is Data?
PART III: HOW TO DO RESEARCH IN PRACTICE
8: Experimental Research
9: Comparative Research
10: Historical research
11: Surveys
12: Interviewing and Focus Groups
13: Ethnography and Participant Observation
14: Textual Analysis
15: Quantitative Analysis: Description and Inference
16: Patterns of Association: Bivariate Analysis
17: A Guide to Multivariate Analysis
Les mer
Discusses step-by-step how to conduct research to support students through the entire research process
Broad coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods makes it relevant to any research project
Discussion of key debates of theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science to broaden students' knowledge of research methods
Includes a range of learning features such as chapter summaries and test questions to re-inforce students' understanding of research methods
Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support
Les mer
Sandra Halperin, Professor of International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London, and Oliver Heath, Professor of Politics, Royal Holloway, University of London
Discusses step-by-step how to conduct research to support students through the entire research process
Broad coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods makes it relevant to any research project
Discussion of key debates of theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science to broaden students' knowledge of research methods
Includes a range of learning features such as chapter summaries and test questions to re-inforce students' understanding of research methods
Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support
Les mer