Introduction to research methods

Class Schedule : 20 hours of class , 6 meetings plus a final exam session on 21

of March Class will consist of : Meeting I: Introduction to Political Research Methodology Meeting II: Defining a topic, and specifying a research question Meeting III: Literature review and evaluation, theories,

hypothesis development, and an overview of quantitative and qualitative research methods

Meeting IV: Introduction to qualitative data collection, and mixed research methods

Meeting V: Introduction to quantitative data collection, ethics, plagiarism and writing up the research

Meeting VI : Issues in Political Research : Internet , Ethics Challenging the mainstream and conclusion.

Research is an ‘Academic’ domain Research is not a mainstream business and

management function Research requires advanced mathematical

knowledge Intuition from experience can be more

valuable than research Research is boring and is done by people

who have no friends and who rarely wash

To become research literate Because we live in a society that is driven

by research To improve critical thinking skills To learn how to read and critically evaluate

published research To learn how to design and conduct

research as future managers

Politics is about power. This makes lots of problems for observers Questions : Whom should be believe? Should we believe

all statements of elected officials ? Who come we can analyze the accuracy of their comments? And effectiveness of their policies?

Is there any best approach to the study of polities ?

What is covered by the umbrella of the subject matter of politics?

What is meant by scientific approach to the subject matter of politics ?

What is the connection between the study of politics and actual practice of politics ?

Is there standard method to use when undertaking a political science research ?

Behaviorism Concentrates on process of politics with mainstream policies and government

Claims to be value free and neutral towards the practice of Politics

Rational Choice Theory Concerns with conditions for collective actions

Claims to offer advise about how to organize polities

Institutionalism Focus on rules and norms that govern political exchanges , tends to look at institutional arrangements in political world

Sees itself alongside with practitioners of politics

Feminism A broad definition that recognized a personal can be political

It is strongly engaged in politics

Anti-Foundational or interpretive theory

Politics is a narrative contest which can take place in a wide variety of settings

Mixed range of responses with tendency towards narration

Marxism Politics is struggle between social groups in particular social classes

Committed to engagement in struggles of oppressed social groups or classes

There are many answers But there are two main categories: 1- Field of study by reference to an arena or

particular set of institutions (Behaviorism, Rational Choice Theory ,Institutionalism)

2- Definition of political science which see politics as a social process that can be observed in a variety of settings (Feminism, Anti-Foundational or interpretive theory and Marxism)

NO Quantitative Methods Qualitative Methods Mixed Methods Comparative Methods

Science is progressive Science is rational Science is creative Science is dynamic Science is open Science is “critical” Science is never-ending

Ontology: the meaning of being , it questions the real existence of the problem

Example : is there any difference between men and women?

Epistemology : is about knowledge . Is an observer able to identify real and objective relations between social phenomenon's? If so, how?

Develop an idea to investigate or a problem to solve

Hypothesis formation Research Decision Modification and Extension

Deductive: the process of drawing a specific conclusion from a set of premises. Involves the following three steps:

1. State the hypothesis

2. Collect data to test the hypothesis

3. Make decision to accept or reject the hypothesis

Also known as ‘Theory Testing

Inductive: reasoning from particular to general. Involves the following three steps:

1. Observe the world 2. Search for a pattern

in what is observed 3. Make a

generalization about what is occurring.

Also known as ‘Theory generating’

The word “theory” simply implies “explanation”. Theories explain “why” and “how” something operates as it does.

Theories exist to relative degrees of strength. Incredibly, the fact that aspirin cures headaches is still only theoretical – it have never been ‘proved’.

Theory exists by:◦ Proof : Water turns to ice at – 6 degrees◦ Association/correlation : Higher salaries motivate

workers◦ Empirical observation/testing: Volvo is the safest car

Is it logical and coherent? Is it clear? Does it fit the available data? Does it provide testable claims? Have theory-based predictions been tested and supported? Has it survived numerous attempts by researchers to identify problems

with it or to falsify it? Does it work better than competing or rival theories of explanations? Is it general enough to apply to more than one place, situation, or person? Can practitioners use it to control or influence things in the world?

Dr Taran Patel Bus Res Meth: 1

Hypothesis: a statement linking dependent (outcome) and independent (explanatory) variable. During the course of a research study this statement is to be tested through collection of primary and/or secondary data and its analysis.

Eg: Tourism development in Liberia (outcome or DEPENDANT variable) depends upon levels of investment (Explanatory of INDEPENDENT variable)

Your turn: Adding ECO labels to our products will increase sales in Europe.

Dr Taran Patel Bus Res Meth: 1

PRIMARY: data collected directly by the researcher, specifically for the purposes of his/her research project.

For the FMP, it is required that you use primary data to test your hypotheses.

Examples please?

SECONDARY: data collected by someone else, usually for a different purpose

Examples please?

Dr Taran Patel Bus Res Meth: 1

Archives, databases, Web pages

Experiment, observation, interview, survey

Quantitative methods◦ Experiment◦ Survey

Qualitative methods◦ Observations◦ Interviews

Mixed methods◦ Combination of quantitative and qualitative

Quantitative methods◦ Statistics◦ Social network analysis

Qualitative methods◦ Content analysis◦ Grounded theory

Mixed methods◦ Combination of quantitative and qualitative

Thank you