Empirical Political Analysis

by Manheim, Jarol B.; Rich, Richard C.

• ISBN13: 9780801313073
• ISBN10: 0801313074
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1994-10-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

Empirical Political Analysis: Research Methods in Political Science, Fourth Edition, provides thorough coverage of the entire research process--from conceptualization of the research question through the difficulties of data collection to interpretation of the findings.

Author Biography

Richard C. Rich is professor of political science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
The Research Process	p. 1
The Formulation of Theory	p. 4
The Operationalization of Theory	p. 6
The Selection of Appropriate Research Techniques	p. 7
The Observation of Behavior	p. 8
The Analysis of Data	p. 10
Interpretation of the Results	p. 11
Research Exercises	p. 12
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 13
Preparing To Do Research	p. 14
Theory Building: Concepts and Hypotheses in Political Research	p. 14
The Nature of Social Science Theory	p. 16
The Logic of Theory Building	p. 16
Components of Social Science Theory	p. 20
Relationships in Social Science Theory	p. 22
Theory Testing and Elaboration	p. 25
The Role of Hypotheses	p. 26
Formulating Hypotheses	p. 29
Conclusion	p. 32
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 32
Research Exercises	p. 32
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 33
Setting the Foundation: Techniques of Systematic Bibliographic Search	p. 34
Using the Existing Literature	p. 34
Developing a System	p. 36
Conducting the Search	p. 42
Political Science Journals	p. 45
Bibliographic Sources	p. 47
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 49
Research Exercise	p. 49
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 50
From Abstract to Concrete: Operationalization and Measurement	p. 51
Operationalization: The Link Between Theory and Observation	p. 52
Operational Definitions	p. 54
Measurement	p. 56
Levels of Measurement	p. 56
Working Hypotheses	p. 62
Measurement Error: The Enemy	p. 64
Validity	p. 67
Reliability	p. 73
Conclusion	p. 76
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 77
Research Exercises	p. 77
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 77
Working From a Plan Considerations in Research Design	p. 79
Research Purpose and Research Design	p. 79
Coping with Alternative Rival Hypotheses Through Research Design	p. 80
Experimental Research Designs	p. 85
Assigning Cases to Groups	p. 88
Field Experiments and Nonexperimental Designs	p. 90
Quasi-Experimental Designs	p. 91
Creating a Research Design	p. 96
Factors That Threaten Validity	p. 97
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 98
Research Exercises	p. 99
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 199
Who, What, Where, When: The Problem of Sampling	p. 101
Defining a Representative Sample	p. 102
Procedures for Selecting a Representative Sample	p. 105
Variations on Random Sampling	p. 107
Determining Appropriate Sample Size	p. 114
Conclusion	p. 118
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 118
Research Exercises	p. 119
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 119
Quantitative Methods	p. 120
Survey Research	p. 120
Stages of the Survey Process	p. 121
Conceptualizing	p. 122
Survey Design	p. 122
Instrumentation	p. 124
Planning and Sampling	p. 133
Training and Briefing Personnel	p. 137
Pretesting	p. 138
Surveying	p. 140
Monitoring	p. 141
Verifying	p. 142
Secondary Analysis of Survey Data	p. 143
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 145
Research Exercises	p. 146
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 147
Scaling Techniques	p. 148
Scale Construction: Two Basic Concerns	p. 149
Likert Scaling	p. 150
Guttman Scaling	p. 152
Thurstone Scaling	p. 156
The Semantic Differential	p. 158
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 159
Research Exercises	p. 160
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 160
Content Analysis	p. 161
Preparing to Use Content Analysis	p. 162
Undertaking a Substantive Content Analysis	p. 166
Undertaking a Structural Content Analysis	p. 169
Special Problems in the Use of Content Analysis	p. 171
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 174
Research Exercises	p. 174
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 175
Sources and Applications of Aggregate Data	p. 176
Types of Aggregate Data	p. 177
Problems in the Use of Aggregate Data	p. 181
Sources of Aggregate Data	p. 186
Collecting Aggregate Data	p. 189
Conclusion	p. 195
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 195
Research Exercises	p. 196
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 196
Crossing Borders: The Practice of Comparative Research	p. 197
Finding Questions that "Travel"	p. 199
Using Equivalent Measures	p. 202
Choosing Cases to Study	p. 204
Finding Independent Observations	p. 206
Finding Data	p. 207
Conclusion	p. 209
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 210
Research Exercises	p. 210
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 211
Analyzing Quantitative Data	p. 212
Data Preparation and Data Processing	p. 212
Coding: What Do All Those Numbers Mean?	p. 212
The Codebook and the Coding Sheet	p. 217
Data Entry and Data Processing	p. 220
Conclusion	p. 222
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 222
Research Exercises	p. 223
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 223
Describing the Data: The Construction of Tables, Charts, and Diagrams	p. 224
The Enumerative Table	p. 225
The Line Diagram	p. 227
The Pie Diagram and the Bar Chart	p. 228
The Bilateral Bar Chart	p. 232
The Contingency Table	p. 233
Some Words of Caution	p. 234
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 235
Research Exercises	p. 235
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 236
Statistics I: Summarizing Distributions on One Variable	p. 237
Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion	p. 238
Measures for Nominal Variables	p. 240
Measures for Ordinal Variables	p. 241
Measures for Interval Variables	p. 243
Conclusion	p. 247
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 248
Research Exercises	p. 248
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 249
Statistics II: Examining Relationships Between Two Variables	p. 250
Measures of Association and Statistical Significance	p. 250
Measures of Association and Significance for Nominal Variables	p. 257
Measures of Association and Significance for Ordinal Variables	p. 262
Measures of Association and Significance for Interval Variables	p. 264
Conclusion	p. 270
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 270
Research Exercises	p. 271
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 272
Statistics III: Examining Relationships Among Several Variables	p. 273
Tabular Analysis	p. 273
Multiple Regression	p. 276
Interpreting Multiple Regression Results	p. 278
Path Analysis	p. 283
Conclusion	p. 287
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 288
Research Exercises	p. 288
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 289
Mathematical Modeling	p. 290
The Process of Modeling	p. 292
Why Model?	p. 295
Examples of Mathematical Models of Political Behavior	p. 299
Other Types of Models	p. 307
Problems with Modeling	p. 308
Conclusion	p. 309
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 310
Research Exercises	p. 311
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 312
Qualitative Methods	p. 313
Introduction to Qualitative Methods	p. 313
Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods	p. 314
Irreconcilable Differences?	p. 318
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 319
Elite and Specialized Interviewing	p. 320
Elite Interviewing	p. 320
Techniques of Elite Interviewing	p. 323
Specialized Interviewing	p. 327
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 328
Research Exercises	p. 328
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 329
Direct Observation	p. 330
Scientific Method and Direct Observation	p. 331
Approaches to Direct Observation	p. 332
Techniques of Unstructured Observation	p. 334
Techniques of Structured Observation	p. 339
Sampling Procedures in Direct Observation	p. 343
Coping with Method Effects in Direct Observation	p. 345
The Ethics of Direct Observation	p. 349
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 351
Research Exercises	p. 351
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 351
Focus Group Methodologies	p. 352
Why Use Focus Groups?	p. 352
Limitations of Focus Groups	p. 354
When Are Focus Groups Useful?	p. 356
Planning and Conducting Focus Groups	p. 358
Analyzing Focus Group Results	p. 363
Reporting Focus Group Results	p. 365
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 366
Research Exercises	p. 366
Terms Introduced in This Chapter	p. 367
Conclusion	p. 368
Writing (or Reading) the Research Report	p. 368
The Plan	p. 369
The Structure	p. 369
The Style	p. 371
The Title and Abstract	p. 372
Conclusion	p. 373
A Case in Point	p. 373
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 397
Research Exercises	p. 397
Term Introduced in This Chapter	p. 397
Overview	p. 398
Developing Hypotheses, Measures, and a Research Design	p. 398
Data Collection and Analysis	p. 400
A Checklist for Judging Research	p. 401
Conclusion	p. 404
Statistical Tables	p. 406
Ethical Considerations in Empirical Research	p. 415
Glossary	p. 420
Index	p. 435
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