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9781412903769

Doing Research in Political Science : An Introduction to Comparative Methods and Statistics

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  • ISBN13:

    9781412903769

  • ISBN10:

    1412903769

  • Edition: 2nd
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Copyright: 2005-12-15
  • Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

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Summary

This is an immensely helpful book for students starting their own research'¦ an excellent introduction to the comparative method giving an authoritative overview over the research process- Klaus Armingeon, University of BernDoing Research in Political Science is the book for mastering the comparative method in all the social sciences- Jan-Erik Lane, University of GenevaThis book has established itself as a concise and well-readable text on comparative methods and statistics in political science I'¦strongly recommend it.- Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Philipps-University MarburgThis thoroughly revised edition of the popular textbook offers an accessible but comprehensive introduction to comparative research methods and statistics for students of political science. Clearly organized around three parts, the text introduces the main theories and methodologies used in the discipline.Part 1 frames the comparative approach within the methodological framework of the political and social sciences.Part 2 introduces basic descriptive and inferential statistical methods as well as more advanced multivariate methods used in quantitative political analysis.Part 3 applies the methods and techniques of Parts 1 & 2 to research questions drawn from contemporary themes and issues in political science.Incorporating practice exercises, ideas for further reading and summary questions throughout, Doing Research in Political Science provides an invaluable step-by-step guide for students and researchers in political science, comparative politics and empirical political analysis.

Table of Contents

Preface ix
PART 1 COMPARATIVE METHODOLOGY
1(52)
Comparative Methodology and Statistics in Political Science
3(15)
Introduction
3(3)
The comparative approach to political and social science: theory and method
6(2)
Comparing data: selecting cases and variables
8(5)
Developing empirical-analytical comparative analysis
13(2)
How to use this book
15(1)
Endmatter
16(2)
The Comparative Approach: Theory and Method
18(12)
Introduction
18(1)
Comparative research and case selection
19(4)
The use of comparative analysis in political science: relating politics, polity and policy to society
23(5)
Endmatter
28(2)
Meaning and Use of the Comparative Method: Research Design
30(23)
Introduction
30(2)
The problem of variables, cases, and interpretations
32(7)
Context matters
35(1)
Logics of comparison
36(3)
The role of space and time
39(3)
Time and history
40(1)
Space and Cross-Sections
41(1)
Developing a research design
42(6)
Transforming concepts into units of measurement
48(2)
Conclusion
50(1)
Endmatter
51(2)
PART 2 STATISTICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
53(130)
Concepts, Cases, Data and Measurement
55(33)
Data and data collection in political science
56(4)
Data obtained from official statistical agencies
56(2)
Verbal and visual accounts, content analysis
58(1)
Questionnaires and surveys
59(1)
Sampling and the basics of statistical testing
60(2)
Statistical inference from a random sample
60(1)
Random samples and non-random samples
61(1)
Operationalization and measurement: Linking data with concepts and units
62(4)
Handling missing data
65(1)
Criteria to evaluate the quality of operationalization and measurements
66(4)
Multiple indicators: the scalability (reliability) problem
69(1)
Scalability and cluster analysis
70(16)
Likert scales and Cronbach's alpha
74(1)
Factor analysis
75(3)
Principal axis factoring and confirmative factor analysis
78(2)
Digression: an unknown number of dimensions
80(2)
Explorative cluster analysis
82(3)
Summary
85(1)
Conclusion
86(1)
Endmatter
86(2)
Explorative and Descriptive Statistics
88(44)
The univariate distribution of a nominal variable
89(3)
Measures of central tendency for nominal variables: the mode
90(1)
Measures of dispersion for nominal variables: entropy and the Herfindahl Index
91(1)
The univariate distribution of ordinal, interval and ratio variables
92(7)
Measures of central tendency
93(1)
Measures of dispersion
94(3)
The shape of the entire distribution of a variable with interval measurement
97(2)
Relationships between variables with nominal measurement levels
99(4)
The chi-square measure of association in a cross-table
100(3)
The bivariate distribution of two ordinal, interval or ratio variables
103(11)
Exploring the bivariate distribution the scattergram
104(2)
Bivariate regression analysis
106(8)
The relation between an interval or ratio variable and a nominal variable
114(5)
An interval variable and a bivariate nominal variable: the comparison of two means
114(1)
Analysis of variance: an interval variable by a nominal variable with j values
115(4)
Populations, samples and inferential statistics
119(9)
The urn model
120(1)
Unbiasedness, efficiency and robustness of an estimator
121(2)
The general procedure used in hypothesis testing
123(1)
Four common probability distributions of test statistics
124(3)
Degrees of freedom
127(1)
Sense and nonsense of statistical tests
128(1)
Summary
128(1)
Endmatter
129(3)
Multivariate Analysis and Causal Inference
132(51)
Causality and multivariate relations
133(3)
Overview of multivariate data analysis techniques
136(1)
The case-oriented approach
137(4)
Nominal dependent and independent variables
141(4)
Cross-table elaboration
142(3)
Nominal dependent variable, interval independent variables
145(5)
Discriminant analysis example: explaining the type of government
146(4)
Interval dependent variable, nominal independent variables: analysis of variance
150(2)
Interval dependent and independent variables: regression analysis
152(28)
The multiple regression model
153(4)
Assumptions of the ordinary least squares estimation method
157(7)
Direct causes, intervening variables and antecedent variables
164(1)
Interactions in the multivariate regression model
164(2)
Time series analysis: the autocorrelation problem
166(8)
Pooled time series analysis: autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity
174(6)
Reciprocal causal relations: linear structural equation models
180(1)
Epilogue
180(1)
Endmatter
181(2)
PART 3 DOING POLITICAL RESEARCH
183(116)
Introduction to Part III: Doing political research
183(4)
How problems arise
187(30)
Processes of electoral change
187(11)
The problem of change
187(2)
Measuring electoral change
189(4)
Modelling change
193(5)
Processes of party change
198(15)
The role of parties
198(2)
Parties and ideology scales
200(6)
Parties and issues
206(3)
Public opinion and party responsiveness
209(4)
Conclusions
213(1)
Endmatter
214(3)
How Decisions are Made
217(41)
Introduction
217(2)
Types of democracies
219(6)
Party systems
225(4)
Cabinet formation and duration
229(10)
Interest intermediation
239(4)
Federalism, centralism and institutional autonomy
243(5)
Presidentialism
248(4)
Conclusions
252(1)
Endmatter
252(6)
How Problems are Solved
258(41)
Introduction
258(2)
Welfare-related outputs and performance
260(3)
Actors and socio-economic problem-solving
263(7)
Institutions and socio-economic problem-solving
270(6)
Electoral cycles and macro-economic policy
276(3)
Democratic performance
279(10)
Parties and accountability
289(4)
Conclusions
293(2)
Endmatter
295(4)
Appendix 299(6)
Bibliography 305(12)
Index 317

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