Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Political Science (Handbooks of Research Methods and Applications series)

'Any student undertaking a politics degree at graduate level will find this book an indispensible introduction to the subject they are approaching and it will also be useful for teachers seeking to orientate themselves within the discipline as a whole. This is particularly true because of the supporting detail the book provides and the way it links up technical exposition to fundamental philosophical questions. From a student point of view it does not shrink from providing useful practical tips on how to present and publish research results and how to check out established themes with new data. This is a book which political scientists at all levels will benefit from reading. It should also stimulate them to take a fresh look both at their own work and that of others - and - who knows? - perhaps forge some of that unity across the discipline which is the main subject of its discussion.' - Colin Hay, University of Sheffield, UK and L'Institut d'Etudes Politiques at Sciences Po, France 'This Handbook provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of the current state of empirical-analytical political science. The contributions share a systemic and multi-layered approach combining political actors, organizations, and institutions. In addition, types of data and data collection as well as advanced types of data analysis are described and explained. Finally, much can be learned about the evaluation of research output and publication strategies. The editors have motivated a stellar set of 40 authors to contribute to the 33 chapters of the Handbook. The index makes it easy to navigate the vast ocean of results and ideas. The Handbook is a ''must have'' for scholars interested in what political science can contribute to reliably answer the most important questions facing the complex world of politics today.' - Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin (Berlin Social Science Center), Germany This Handbook offers a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art research methods and applications currently in use in political science. It combines theory and methodology (qualitative and quantitative), and offers insights into the major approaches and their roots in the philosophy of scientific knowledge. Including a comprehensive discussion of the relevance of a host of digital data sources, plus the dos and don'ts of data collection in general, the book also explains how to use diverse research tools and highlights when and how to apply these techniques. With wide-ranging coverage of general political science topics and systemic approaches to politics, the editors showcase research methods that can be used at the micro, meso and macro levels. Chapters explore applied and fundamental knowledge, approaches and their usefulness, meta-theoretical issues, and the art and practice of undertaking research. This highly accessible book provides hands-on information on research topics and methods, and offers the reader extensive bibliographies for in-depth exploration of cutting edge techniques. Finally, it discusses the relevance of political science research, as well as the art of publishing, reporting and submitting your research findings. An essential tool for researchers in political science, public administration and international relations, this book will be an important reference for academics and students employing research methods and techniques across the social sciences, including sociology, anthropology and communication studies. Front Matter......Page 1 Copyright......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of contributors......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 20 Introduction......Page 21 PART I POLITICAL SCIENCE: RANGE, SCOPE AND CONTESTED METHODOLOGIES......Page 27 1 Political science......Page 29 2 Epistemology and approaches: logic, causation and explanation......Page 44 3 Taking critical ontology seriously: implications for political science methodology......Page 58 4 Relating theory and concepts to measurements: bridging the gap......Page 74 5 On time and space: the historical dimension in political science......Page 84 6 Systems theory: the search for a general theory of politics......Page 99 PART II APPROACHES: EXPLORING POLITICAL INTERACTIONS......Page 115 7 Applying multilevel governance......Page 117 8 Regime types: measuring democracy and autocracy......Page 131 9 Institutional analysis: progress and problems......Page 147 10 Political actors: parties–interest groups–government......Page 161 11 Social movements and political action......Page 175 12 International relations and transnational politics......Page 189 13 Political economy: economic miracles and socio-economic performance......Page 204 14 Political theory and its normative methods......Page 222 PART III ANALYZING POLITICS: DATA–CONCEPTS–TECHNIQUES......Page 235 15 Organizing and developing data sets: exemplified by the Party Government Data Set......Page 237 16 Political institutions......Page 254 17 Studying voting behavior......Page 268 18 The role of high- quality surveys in political science research......Page 282 19 Quantitative data analysis in political science......Page 301 20 Models in political science: forms and purposes......Page 315 21 Qualitative methods in political science......Page 329 22 Multilevel regression analysis......Page 343 PART IV RESEARCH TOOLS: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE APPLICATIONS......Page 361 23 Studying how policies affect the people: grappling with measurement, causality and the macro–micro divide......Page 363 24 Regression analysis......Page 379 25 Configurational comparative methods (QCA and fuzzy sets): complex causation in cross-case analysis......Page 403 26 Discourse analysis, social constructivism and text analysis: a critical overview......Page 420 27 Case study analysis......Page 439 28 Cluster analysis......Page 450 29 The logic of process tracing: contributions, pitfalls and future directions......Page 472 PART V EVALUATION AND RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH OUTPUT......Page 487 30 Political science research and its political relevance......Page 489 31 What’s methodology got to do with it? Public policy evaluations, observational analysis and RCTs......Page 503 32 Re-analysis, testability and falsification......Page 517 33 The art of publishing: how to report and submit your findings......Page 534 Index......Page 549 This Handbook offers a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art research methods and applications currently in use in political science. It combines theory and methodology (qualitative and quantitative), and offers insights into the major approaches and their roots in the philosophy of scientific knowledge. Including a comprehensive discussion of the relevance of a host of digital data sources, plus the dos and don'ts of data collection in general, the book also explains how to use diverse research tools and highlights when and how to apply these techniques. With wide-ranging coverage of general political science topics and systemic approaches to politics, the editors showcase research methods that can be used at the micro, meso and macro levels. Chapters explore applied and fundamental knowledge, approaches and their usefulness, meta-theoretical issues, and the art and practice of undertaking research. This highly accessible book provides hands-on information on research topics and methods, and offers the reader extensive bibliographies for in-depth exploration of cutting-edge techniques. Finally, it discusses the relevance of political science research, as well as the art of publishing, reporting and submitting research findings. An essential tool for researchers in political science, public administration and international relations, this book will be an important reference for academics and students employing research methods and techniques across the social sciences, including sociology, anthropology and communication studies.-- Provided by Publisher