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

by Paul Pennings

• ISBN13: 9781412903769
• ISBN10: 1412903769
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-12-15
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

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