You are here

Research Methods in Politics
Share

Research Methods in Politics



April 2008 | 352 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Packed with features to promote learning this text is ideal for use on an introductory methods course or for readers carrying out their own research project.

It presents:

- an overview of the philosophy and principles of research

- qualitative and quantitative research methods and research design

- a critical review of selected methods

- methods of gathering information, such as interviews and focus groups, and discusses issues associated with ensuring quality of information

- appropriate methods for analysing and interpreting data, and covers the process of communicating research.

The inclusion of chapter objectives, regular summaries, questions for discussion and tasks and assignments, makes this the must-have text for researching politics.

 
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
 
Introduction
 
Power in Research, Ethics, Data Protection and Bias
 
The Philosophy and Principles of Research
 
PART TWO: METHODOLOGIES
 
Qualitative versus Quantitative Methods
A Relevant Argument?

 
 
Collecting Data Sets
Case Studies, Experimental, Comparative, Longitudinal and Action Research Models

 
 
PART THREE: COLLECTING INFORMATION
 
Critically Evaluating Published Research
 
Evaluating Information
Validity, Reliability, Accuracy, Triangulation

 
 
Completing a Literature Review
Accessing Published Information

 
 
Asking Questions
Effective Elite Interviews, Vignettes, Projective Questions and Focus Groups

 
 
Questionnaire Surveys
 
Observation
 
PART FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS
 
Analyzing Research Data
The Process

 
 
PART FOUR A: QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
 
Calculating and Interpretating Descriptive Statistics
 
Using and Understanding Inferential Statistics
 
Testing for Association
 
Applying Factor Analysis and Other Advanced Techniques
 
PART FOUR B: QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
 
Analyzing Qualitative Information
Classifying, Coding and Interpreting Information

 
 
Using Content Analysis
 
Understanding and Adopting Discourse and Narrative Analysis
 
PART FIVE: COMMUNICATING RESEARCH
 
Writing Up

excellent book for students who concerned with choosing relevant methods in politics.

Mr Ikrom Yakubov
Department of Politics, Dundee University
February 23, 2016

This is a valuable hands-on guide which can be particularly helpful to students who want to critically review and evaluate existing research.

Dr Kostas Gemenis
Political Science & Research Methods, Twente University
November 15, 2010

For instructors

Purchasing options

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781412935517
£44.99
ISBN: 9781412935500
£130.00

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.

With SAGE Research Methods, researchers can explore their chosen method across the depth and breadth of content, expanding or refining their search as needed; read online, print, or email full-text content; utilize suggested related methods and links to related authors from SAGE Research Methods' robust library and unique features; and even share their own collections of content through Methods Lists. SAGE Research Methods contains content from over 720 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks, the entire “Little Green Book,” and "Little Blue Book” series, two Major Works collating a selection of journal articles, and specially commissioned videos.