Beginning Research in Political Science

Beginning Research in Political Science covers both research design and data analysis and takes a learn-by-doing-approach to guide students through all of the steps needed to complete a research project on one of 14 potential topics concerning differences in public opinion for important
contemporary issues, such as views on income or gender inequality or support for the death penalty or abortion. Each chapter builds from the previous chapter with step-by-step instructions for a particular research task, like writing literature reviews, asking questions using dependent and
independent variables, developing theory, specifying a research design, and measuring concepts. For data analysis, the text features access to a new dataset called the Dataprac and includes online tutorials to work with three widely used statistical programs, Stata, R Studio, and SPSS. The text also
includes a chapter on qualitative analysis so that students can complete brief case studies related to their research topics and a final chapter that encourages students to utilize the newest wave of the World Values Survey to replicate their quantitative analyses.

Carolyn Forestiere is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, specializing in comparative politics, Western Europe, institutions, and research methodology.

Preface

Chapter 1. Introduction
The Steps of the Research Process
Different Kinds of Research
Plan for the Book
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 2. Reviewing the Literature
Using the Best Sources for a Literature Review
Tier 1: Peer-Reviewed Research Articles and Academic Books
The Peer-Review Process
Finding Peer-Reviewed Research Articles
Publishing Academic Books
Finding Academic Books
Tier 2: Academic Reports and Working Papers
Finding Academic Reports and Working Papers
Tier 3: News Magazines and Newspapers
Finding News Stories
Doing Your Search
A Few Tricks
What to Do Once You Have Identified the Literature That is Most Relevant for Your Topic
Staying Organized
Annotated Bibliographies
The Literature Review
To Cite or Not to Cite
Citation and Reference Styles
Citations
References
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 3. Asking Questions in Political Science
Analytical Research Questions
Independent and Dependent Variables
Other Types of Variables
Phrasing Analytical Research Questions
Introduction to Measurement
Coming Up with an Analytical Research Question
Step 1: Identify the Dependent Variable (DV) for Your Research Topic
Step 2: Choose Independent Variables (IV1 and IV2)
Step 3: Think about Your Research Design
Step 4: Write Your Analytical Research Question
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 4. Theory and Hypotheses
Theory
Causal Explanations
Probabilistic and Generalizable Theories
Theory Building
Competing Theories
Hypotheses
The Null Hypothesis
Writing Research Hypotheses
Theory: Political Socialization
Theory: Information Asymmetries
Theory: Intimidation
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper progress
Coming up

Chapter 5. Research Design
Different Types of Research Design
The Unit of Analysis and the Research Population
Sampling and Generalization
Probability Samples
Nonprobability Samples
Revisiting the Different Types of Research Design
Quantitative Versus Qualitative Research Design
Quantitative Research Designs
Qualitative Research Designs
Experimental Versus Observational Research Designs
Experimental Research Designs
Observational Research Designs
Comparative Studies
Most Similar Systems Design
Most Different Systems Design
Trying to Get the Best of Different Worlds: Mixed Methods Designs
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 6. More on Measurement
Measuring Concepts
Assessing the Best Indicators
Reliability
Validity
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 7. Getting Started with SPSS and Descriptive Statistics
Measurement Revisited
SPSS
Datasets and Codebooks
Limiting the Data Based on the Research Population
Descriptive Statistics
Descriptive Statistics for Variables with Nominal Measurement
Converting Variables with Nominal Measurement with More than Two Possible Categories into Binary Variables
Descriptive Statistics for Variables with Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio Measurement
Part 1: For Variables with Ordinal Measurement When the Number of Categories is Low (Less than Five)
Part 2: For Variables with Ordinal Measurement When the Number of Categories is High (Greater than or Equal to Five) and for Variables with Interval or Ratio Measurement
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 8. Bivariate Analysis
Bivariate Analysis between an Independent Binary Variable and a Dependent Variable with Ordinal, Interval, or Ratio Measurement: The Difference of Means Test
Bivariate Analysis between Two Variables with Ordinal, Interval, or Ratio Measurement: The Correlation Coefficient
Positive Correlation, 11
Inverse Correlation, 21
No Correlation, 0
The Magnitude of the Result
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 9. Introduction to Regression
Ordinary Least Squares Linear Regression
Single Variable Linear Regression between One Independent Variable and One Dependent Variable
Multivariate Linear Regression between Several Independent Variables and One Dependent Variable
Using Data from the World Values Survey
Model 1
Model 2
Model 3
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 10. Qualitative Analysis Through Case Studies
Case Studies
How to Conduct Case Studies: Step 1, Determining What is to be Studied
How to Conduct Case Studies: Step 2, Gathering Information
Field Research
Analysis of Documents
A Word about Triangulation
Sampling in Case Study Research
How much Information is Necessary for Case Studies?
How to Conduct Case Studies: Step 3, Analyzing Qualitative Data
Analyzing Qualitative Data through Content Analysis
Analyzing Qualitative Data through Process Tracing
How to Conduct Case Studies: Step 4, Writing Up the Case Study
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 11. Writing a Final Research Report
General Template for a Research Paper in Political Science
How to Write the Individual Sections of a Final Report
The Order of What to Write for a Research Paper
1. Literature Review
2. Theory and Hypotheses
3. Methods and Data
4. Results and Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. Introduction
7. Abstract
8. References
Issues in Writing
Structure
Establishing a Proper Tone
The "I" Debate
In the Introduction
In Methods and Data
Being Repetitive
Using Citations
Conclusion
Glossary
Exercises
Paper Progress
Coming Up

Chapter 12. Your Future in Research
Dissemination to a Larger Audience
Conferences
Publishing Your Work
Using your Papers for Other Purposes
Using the Tools of Research in Other Ways
Modifying the Template for Other Work: Reviewing the Steps of the Research Process
Using a Similar Design for Different Research Questions and Instructions for a Second Project
Quantitative Analysis for the New Project
Qualitative Analysis for the New Project
Modifying the Design to Create Different Types of Research Projects
Final Thoughts
Glossary

Appendix A. Obtaining Permission to Conduct Field Research Based on Interactions with Human Subjects
Glossary
Appendix B. Conferences in the United States for Undergraduates Doing Political Science Research
Appendix C. Data Sources for Public Use
Index