Research Methods in Politics 1 Introduction Research Methods

Research Methods in Politics 1 Introduction Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 1

Teaching & Learning Objectives 1. to answer the question: what is research? 2. to introduce key features of research specific to Politics Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 2

What is research? n n n process of systematic inquiry inquisitive: seeking to answer the research question careful, methodical original academic research has a central concern for theory: testing existing theory (deductive research) or developing new theory (inductive research) Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 3

The research process n research question n literature and theory review n data collection n analysis n interpretation n conclusions Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 4

What is Politics? n [The academic discipline of Politics is concerned with] developing a knowledge of government and society. The interaction of people, ideas and institutions provides the focus to understand how values are allocated and resources distributed at many levels from the local to the sectoral, national, regional and global. The analyses of who gets what, when , how, why, and where are central and pertain to elated questions of power, justice, order, conflict, legitimacy, accountability, obligation, sovereignty and decisionmaking. Politics encompasses philosophical, theoretical, institutional and issue-based concerns relating to governance (QAA, 2000) Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 5

The course INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction 2. Power, Ethics, Bias 3. Philosophy and Principles METHODOLOGIES 4. Quantitative and Qualitative Research 5. Case Studies, Comparative etc Research COLLECTING INFORMATION 6. Evaluating Published Research 7. Validity, Reliability, Accuracy 8. Literature Review 9. Interviews 10. Questionnaire Surveys 11. Observation ANALYSIS The Process QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS 13. Descriptive Statistics Inferential Statistics Regression Analysis Factor Analysis QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS 17. Analysing ‘talk and text’ 18. Content Analysis Discourse Analysis COMMUNICATING RESEARCH 20. Writing-Up Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 6

Questions for Discussion or Assignments 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. What is Politics? Is Political Science more appropriate, a misnomer or oxymoron? What is Research? What is the current research agenda for Politics? What topics would you like to see added? Why? Is power central to Politics? Which research methods are generic to social sciences? Which others, if any, are specific to Politics? What are the implications of postmodernism for academic research? Is there a distinction between truth and facts? Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 7

Course Texts n n Pierce, R. (2008) Research Methods in Politics: a practical guide. London: Sage. Burnham, P. , Grillard, K. , Grant, W. , and Layton. Henry, Z. (2004) Research Methods in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Harrison, L. (2001) Political Research: an introduction, . London: Routledge. Marsh, D. , and Stoker, G. (eds. ) (2002) Theory and Methods in Political Science. Basingstoke: Palgrave Research Methods in Politics: 1: Introduction 8