Doing Dissertations in Politics: A Student Guide

by Silbergh,David

• ISBN13: 9780415246866
• ISBN10: 0415246865
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2001-10-12
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This guide has been designed to help undergraduates develop an understanding of practical research methods, and their application in the undergraduate dissertation. Written in an accessible and engaging style, it offers advice on all aspects of undergraduate research, from choosing a dissertation subject through to presenting the finished article.

Author Biography

David M. Silbergh teaches Research Methods at The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	ix
Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
Doing Dissertations in Politics	1	(19)
Research Design and the Dissertation	20	(30)
Defining the Problem: the Research Proposal	50	(23)
Refining the Problem: the Literature Review	73	(16)
Deduction, Quantification and the Empirical Dissertation: Facing up to Feline Frolics	89	(36)
Induction, Qualification and the Empirical Dissertation: Understanding Feline Fun	125	(28)
Putting the Cat Out: the Theoretical Dissertation	153	(11)
Making Sense of it all: Critical Thought and Data Analysis	164	(13)
Making Sense of it all: Drafting, Completing and Submitting the Dissertation	177	(4)
Bibliography	181	(6)
Index	187