Empirical Political Analysis : Research Methods in Political Science

by Manheim, Jarol B.; Rich, Richard C.; Willnat, Lars; Brians, Craig L.

• ISBN13: 9780321298607
• ISBN10: 0321298608
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

The premier political science research methods text has been thoroughly updated to emphasize the role of new technologiesrs" in current research. The revisions enhance the comprehensive introduction to systematic political research that has made this book popular among both students and instructors for more than two decades.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Introduction	1	(1)
The Research Process	1	(12)
The Quest for Knowledge	1	(3)
The Formulation of Theory	4	(2)
The Operationalization of Theory	6	(1)
The Selection of Appropriate Research Techniques	7	(1)
The Observation of Behavior	8	(1)
The Analysis of Data	9	(2)
Interpretation of the Results	11	(1)
Conclusion	11	(1)
Summary Points	12	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	12	(1)
Research Exercises	12	(1)
Key Terms	12	(1)
Preparing to Do Research	13	(114)
Theory Building: Concepts and Hypotheses in Political Research	13	(19)
The Nature of Social Science Theory	15	(1)
The Logic of Theory Building	15	(4)
Components of Social Science Theory	19	(2)
Relationships in Social Science Theory	21	(2)
Theory Testing and Elaboration	23	(2)
The Role of Hypotheses	25	(3)
Formulating Hypotheses	28	(2)
Conclusion	30	(1)
Summary Points	30	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	30	(1)
Research Exercises	31	(1)
Key Terms	31	(1)
Setting the Foundation: Techniques of Systematic Bibliographic Search	32	(15)
Using the Existing Literature	32	(2)
Developing a System	34	(1)
Periodical Indexes and Databases	35	(6)
Library Catalogs	41	(2)
Organizing Your Findings	43	(2)
Conclusion	45	(1)
Summary Points	45	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	45	(1)
Research Exercise	46	(1)
Key Terms	46	(1)
Internet Research	47	(13)
What Is Out There?	47	(3)
Internet Search Strategies	50	(4)
The Invisible Web	54	(2)
Political Sources on the Internet	56	(2)
Conclusion	58	(1)
Summary Points	58	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	59	(1)
Research Exercises	59	(1)
Key Terms	59	(1)
From Abstract to Concrete: Operationalization and Measurement	60	(27)
Operationalization: The Link Between Theory and Observation	61	(3)
Operational Definitions	64	(1)
Measurement	65	(1)
Levels of Measurement	66	(5)
Working Hypotheses	71	(1)
Measurement Error: The Enemy	72	(4)
Validity	76	(5)
Reliability	81	(3)
Conclusion	84	(1)
Summary Points	85	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	85	(1)
Research Exercises	85	(1)
Key Terms	86	(1)
Working from a Plan: Considerations in Research Design	87	(22)
Research Purpose and Research Design	88	(1)
Coping with Alternative Rival Hypotheses Through Research Design	89	(4)
Experimental Research Designs	93	(3)
Assigning Cases to Groups	96	(2)
Field Experiments and Nonexperimental Designs	98	(1)
Quasi-Experimental Designs	99	(5)
Creating a Research Design	104	(1)
Factors That Threaten Validity	105	(1)
Summary Points	106	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	107	(1)
Research Exercises	107	(1)
Key Terms	108	(1)
Who, What, Where, When: The Problem of Sampling	109	(18)
Defining a Representative Sample	109	(4)
Procedures for Selecting a Representative Sample	113	(2)
Variations on Random Sampling	115	(6)
Determining Appropriate Sample Size	121	(3)
Conclusion	124	(1)
Summary Points	125	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	125	(1)
Research Exercises	125	(1)
Key Terms	126	(1)
Quantitative Methods	127	(91)
Survey Research	127	(29)
Stages of the Survey Process	128	(1)
Conceptualizing	129	(1)
Survey Design	129	(2)
Instrumentation	131	(9)
Types of Surveys	140	(5)
Training and Briefing Personnel	145	(1)
Pretesting	146	(1)
Surveying	147	(2)
Monitoring	149	(1)
Verifying	150	(1)
Secondary Analysis of Survey Data	150	(2)
Conclusion	152	(1)
Summary Points	153	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	153	(1)
Research Exercises	154	(1)
Key Terms	155	(1)
Scaling Techniques	156	(13)
Scale Construction: Two Basic Concerns	157	(1)
Likert Scaling	158	(2)
Guttman Scaling	160	(4)
Thurstone Scaling	164	(2)
The Semantic Differential	166	(1)
Conclusion	167	(1)
Summary Points	167	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	167	(1)
Research Exercises	168	(1)
Key Terms	168	(1)
Content Analysis	169	(14)
Preparing to Use Content Analysis	170	(5)
Undertaking a Substantive Content Analysis	175	(2)
Undertaking a Structural Content Analysis	177	(1)
Special Problems in the Use of Content Analysis	178	(3)
Conclusion	181	(1)
Summary Points	181	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	181	(1)
Research Exercises	182	(1)
Key Terms	182	(1)
Sources and Applications of Aggregate Data	183	(22)
Types of Aggregate Data	184	(4)
Limitations in the Use of Aggregate Data	188	(5)
Sources of Aggregate Data	193	(3)
Collecting Aggregate Data	196	(6)
Conclusion	202	(1)
Summary Points	202	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	202	(1)
Research Exercises	203	(1)
Key Terms	204	(1)
Comparative Research	205	(13)
Research Across Borders	205	(2)
Finding Questions that ``Travel''	207	(2)
Using Equivalent Measures	209	(2)
Choosing Cases to Study	211	(1)
Finding Independent Observations	212	(1)
Diffusing Culture	213	(1)
Finding Data	213	(2)
Conclusion	215	(1)
Summary Points	215	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	216	(1)
Research Exercises	216	(1)
Key Terms	217	(1)
Analyzing Quantitative Data	218	(11)
Social Network Analysis: Finding Structure in a Complex World	218	(12)
A Concept of Social Networks	218	(1)
Social Network Data	219	(3)
Types of Networks	222	(2)
Roles of Participants	224	(3)
Conclusion	227	(1)
Summary Points	228	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	228	(1)
Research Exercises	229	(1)
Key Terms	229	(1)
Data Preparation and Data Processing	230	(12)
Coding: What Do All Those Numbers Mean?	230	(5)
The Codebook and the Coding Sheet	235	(3)
Data Entry and Data Processing	238	(1)
Conclusion	239	(1)
Summary Points	240	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	240	(1)
Research Exercises	240	(1)
Key Terms	241	(1)
Describing the Data: The Construction of Tables and Charts	242	(13)
Computer-Generated Graphics	242	(1)
The Simple Table	243	(2)
The Line Graph	245	(1)
The Pie Chart and the Bar Chart	246	(3)
The Bilateral Bar Chart	249	(1)
The Crosstabulation	250	(2)
Conclusion	252	(1)
Summary Points	252	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	253	(1)
Research Exercises	253	(1)
Key Terms	254	(1)
Statistics I: Summarizing Distributions on One Variable	255	(13)
Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion	256	(2)
Measures for Nominal Variables	258	(1)
Measures for Ordinal Variables	259	(2)
Measures for Interval/Ratio Variables	261	(4)
Conclusion	265	(1)
Summary Points	265	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	266	(1)
Research Exercises	266	(1)
Key Terms	267	(1)
Statistics II: Examining Relationships Between Two Variables	268	(23)
Measures of Association and Statistical Significance	268	(7)
Measures of Association and Significance for Nominal Variables: Lambda	275	(4)
Measures of Association and Significance for Ordinal Variables: Gamma	279	(3)
Measures of Association and Significance for Interval/Ratio Variables: Correlation	282	(6)
Conclusion	288	(1)
Summary Points	288	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	288	(1)
Research Exercises	288	(2)
Key Terms	290	(1)
Statistics III: Examining Relationships Among Several Variables	291
Tabular Analysis	291	(3)
Multiple Regression	294	(2)
Interpreting Multiple Regression Results	296	(1)
Solving Common Problems in Multiple Regression	297	(4)
Path Analysis	301	(4)
Conclusion	305	(1)
Summary Points	306	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	306	(1)
Research Exercises	307	(1)
Key Terms	307
Qualitative Methods	229	(137)
Introduction to Qualitative Methods	308	(1)
Limitations of Quantitative Research	308	(1)
Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods	309	(4)
Different Methods for Different Questions?	313	(1)
Summary Points	314	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	314	(1)
Key Terms	315	(1)
Direct Observation	316	(23)
Direct Observation and the Scientific Method	317	(1)
Approaches to Direct Observation	318	(2)
Techniques of Unstructured Observation	320	(5)
Techniques of Structured Observation	325	(4)
Sampling Procedures in Direct Observation	329	(2)
Coping with Method Effects in Direct Observation	331	(3)
The Ethics of Direct Observation	334	(2)
Conclusion	336	(1)
Summary Points	337	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	337	(1)
Research Exercises	337	(1)
Key Terms	338	(1)
Focus Group Methodologies	339	(16)
Why Use Focus Groups?	339	(4)
When Are Focus Groups Useful?	343	(2)
Planning and Conducting Focus Groups	345	(7)
Conclusion	352	(1)
Summary Points	352	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	353	(1)
Research Exercises	353	(1)
Key Terms	354	(1)
Elite and Specialized Interviewing	355	(11)
Elite Interviewing	355	(2)
Seeking Validity	357	(1)
Techniques of Elite Interviewing	358	(1)
Conducting Elite Interviews	359	(3)
Specialized Interviewing	362	(1)
Conclusion	363	(1)
Summary Points	364	(1)
Suggested Readings and References	364	(1)
Research Exercises	364	(1)
Key Terms	365	(1)
Conclusion	366	(23)
Writing (and Reading) the Research Report	366	(15)
The Plan	366	(1)
The Structure	367	(2)
The Style	369	(1)
The Title and Abstract	370	(1)
Conclusion	371	(1)
Summary Points	371	(1)
A Case in Point	371	(8)
Suggested Readings and References	379	(1)
Research Exercises	379	(1)
Key Term	380	(1)
Overview	381	(8)
Developing Hypotheses, Measures, and a Research Design	381	(2)
Data Collection and Analysis	383	(1)
A Checklist for Judging Research	384	(3)
Conclusion	387	(2)
Appendix A Statistical Tables	389	(10)
Appendix B Ethical Standards in Empirical Research	399	(4)
Glossary	403	(14)
Index	417