Introduction

Studying Politics Studying Politics ScientificallyScientificallyAndrew MartinAndrew Martin

PS 372PS 372

Politics vs. Political SciencePolitics vs. Political Science

How do political scientists acquire How do political scientists acquire scientific research?scientific research?

• They employ They employ empiricalempirical research methods. research methods.

• Research is based on “objective” observations Research is based on “objective” observations

Well-defined principles for collecting, analyzing Well-defined principles for collecting, analyzing and evaluating information.and evaluating information.

Empirical research generates scientific Empirical research generates scientific knowledge. knowledge.

Merits of empirical researchMerits of empirical research

• Allows scholars and students to:Allows scholars and students to:

• Test existing political theories Test existing political theories

• Generate new, scientific knowledgeGenerate new, scientific knowledge

• Ever-changing body of literature over timeEver-changing body of literature over time

Aims of Political ScienceAims of Political Science• DescriptionDescription

• ExplanationExplanation

• PredictionPrediction

Applied ResearchApplied Research

• Research conducted to accumulate knowledge Research conducted to accumulate knowledge for practical purposes (e.g. a problem in need for practical purposes (e.g. a problem in need of a solution).of a solution).

Theoretical researchTheoretical research

Theoretical researchTheoretical research -- Research conducted to -- Research conducted to satisfy intellectual curiosity and is not primarily satisfy intellectual curiosity and is not primarily concerned with a practical application.concerned with a practical application.

Maoz and Russett (1993)Maoz and Russett (1993)Findings:Findings:Democratic states are Democratic states are

in general about as in general about as conflict-and war-conflict-and war-prone as non-prone as non-democracies, but democracies, but democracies have democracies have rarely clashed with rarely clashed with one another in violent one another in violent conflict.conflict.

Qualitative researchQualitative research

• Research is more descriptive, historical, and Research is more descriptive, historical, and tends to include fewer studies or observations. tends to include fewer studies or observations.

Approaches to Qualitative Approaches to Qualitative ResearchResearch

Scholar participationScholar participation

Direct observationDirect observation

In-Depth InterviewsIn-Depth Interviews

Analysis of Documents and MaterialsAnalysis of Documents and Materials

Collected by observing what people do and sayCollected by observing what people do and say

Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research

• Is the investigation of quantitative properties Is the investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships. and phenomena and their relationships.

Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research

Employs mathematical modelsEmploys mathematical models

Concepts are measured quantitatively. Concepts are measured quantitatively.

Transforms concepts into empirical concepts that Transforms concepts into empirical concepts that can be measured mathematically can be measured mathematically

Primary Research FieldsPrimary Research Fields

• American PoliticsAmerican Politics

American Political InstitutionsAmerican Political Institutions

• American Political BehaviorAmerican Political Behavior

• U.S. State PoliticsU.S. State Politics

• Public PolicyPublic Policy

Judicial Decision-MakingJudicial Decision-Making

Influencing BureaucraciesInfluencing Bureaucracies

Politics-Administration Dichotomy

AdministrationPoliticsWoodand

Waterman

• Comparative PoliticsComparative Politics

Regional Politics/Political CultureRegional Politics/Political Culture

• Democratization/ElectionsDemocratization/Elections

• Civil/Ethnic ConflictCivil/Ethnic Conflict

• Comparative Political InstitutionsComparative Political Institutions

• International RelationsInternational Relations

International Political EconomyInternational Political Economy

• War and International ConflictWar and International Conflict

• Diplomacy/Foreign PolicyDiplomacy/Foreign Policy

• International Institutions International Institutions

Research JournalsResearch Journals

• Most popular for American politics:Most popular for American politics:

• The American Political Science ReviewThe American Political Science Review

• The American Journal of Political ScienceThe American Journal of Political Science

• Journal of PoliticsJournal of Politics

Public Support for Iraq War

Introduction

Documents

Transcript of Introduction

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