Political science research methods

Previous edition: 2012.

And Reviewing the Literature Specifying the Research Question Sources of Ideas for Research Topics Why Conduct a Literature Review? Collecting Sources for a Literature Review Writing a Literature Review Anatomy of a Literature Review Conclusion Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 4: The Building Blocks of Social Scientific Research: Hypotheses, Concepts,

And Variables Proposing Explanations Formulating Hypotheses Defining Concepts Conclusion Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 5: The Building Blocks of Social Scientific Research: Measurement Devising Measurement Strategies Examples of Political Measurements: Getting to Operationalization The Accuracy of Measurements The Precision of Measurements Multi-Item Measures Conclusion Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 6: Research Design: Making Causal Inferences Verifying Causal Assertions Other Randomized Experiments Nonrandomized Designs: Quasi-Experiments Natural Experiments Observational Studies Longitudinal (Time Series) Designs Conclusion Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 7: Sampling The Basics of Sampling.

Types of Samples What Can Be Learned from a Sample of a Population Conclusion Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 8: Making Empirical Observations: Firsthand Observation Types of Data and Collection Techniques Firsthand, Direct Observation Firsthand,

Confidence Intervals and Confidence Levels Conclusion Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 13: Investigating Relationships between Two Variables The Basics of Identifying and Measuring Relationships Table Summaries of Categorical Variable Associations Measuring Strength of Relationships in Tables The Relationship between a Categorical and a Quantitative Variable Regression Analysis Conclusion Appendix: Regression Assumptions Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 14: Multivariate Analysis Holding a Variable Constant Multivariate Analysis of Categorical Data Linear Models Categorical Variables and Linear Models Logistic Regression Conclusion Terms Introduced Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 15: The Research Report: An Annotated Example Annotated Research.

Report Example.

Chapter 1: Introduction; Research on Inequality; Who Votes; Who Doesn't?; Politics and the Gender Gap; Repression of Human Rights; A Look into Judicial Decision Making and Its Effects; Influencing Bureaucracies; Effects of Campaign Advertising on Voters; Research on Public Support for US Foreign Involvement; Conclusion; Terms Introduced; Notes; Chapter 2: The Empirical Approach to Political Science; Elements of Empiricism; The Importance of Theory; A Brief Overview of the Empirical Research Process; Reactions to the Empirical Approach: Practical Objections; Competing Points of View; Conclusion; Terms Introduced; Suggested Readings; Notes; Chapter 3: Beginning the Research Process: Identifying a Research Topic, Developing Research Questions,

And Reviewing the Literature; Specifying the Research Question; Sources of Ideas for Research Topics; Why Conduct a Literature Review?; Collecting Sources for a Literature Review; Writing a Literature Review; Anatomy of a Literature Review; Conclusion; Terms Introduced; Suggested Readings; Notes; Chapter 4: The Building Blocks of Social Scientific Research: Hypotheses, Concepts,

And Variables; Proposing Explanations; Formulating Hypotheses; D…