POL S 537
Concepts and Methods in Comparative Politics
Bridging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide: The Case of RNGS
Spring 2007
Tuesdays, 6:10-9:00 pm
Johnson Tower, 801
Amy G. Mazur
822 Johnson Tower
335-4615/mazur@wsu.edu
Office Hours: 1:30 – 2:30, Tu & Th and by appointment
DESCRIPTION
Up until the early 1990s, political scientists designing and conducting research in
a quantitative perspective and those using qualitative approaches were deeply divided
over the “best (sic)” methodological approach. At best, the two camps seemed to be
“sitting at separate tables”, at worst they were simply just at war. Following the
publication of, Designing Social Inquiry, in 1994 by King, Keohane and Verba and the
1995 APSR symposium issue on DSI, political scientists began an intense discussion of
how to bring the two approaches together in a more constructive manner to produce more
sound and scientific theory-building analysis. In a new era of methodological pluralism,
these efforts to bridge the divide between qualitative and quantitative analysis have
addressed many different methodological gaps between the two approaches, touching
upon general issues of research design, theory-building and concept formation and
application as well as more specific issues of research methods, data collection and
reporting, and analysis. While issues of bridging the qualitative and quantitative divide
are certainly raised in other social science disciplines, systematic efforts to bring the two
approaches together in research and theory building have been solidly located within the
purview of political science.
The aim of this course is to introduce students to some of the major contributions
of this bridging literature in political science through an applied approach; that is through
the application of bridging strategies in a single cross-national research project. The
rationale for and implications of a bridging approach and specific strategies for bringing
qualitative and quantitative methods into a single research design will be covered with a
focus on concept formation and measurement, case studies and the comparative method,
qualitative comparative analysis, triangulation, and mixed methods designs.
The application of these methodological tools as well as the process of bridging
itself will be presented through the women’s policy office project – a study of women’s
policy offices and women’s movements in 17 post industrial democracies, across five
policy areas, since the 1970s -- designed and conducted by the Research Network on
Gender Politics and the State (RNGS). The RNGS project since its inception has been
defined as an explicitly bridging study, both contributing to and taking from the growing
literature on bringing qualitative and quantitative approaches closer together. Thus,
RNGS presents students with a case study of bridging. Qualitative case analyses in issue
books, a QCA dataset and a quantitative dataset and codebook compiled from the study
are made available to students in the course. A series of methodological exercises are
assigned to allow students to learn first hand how to design and carry out research with a
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bridging logic. Students will have the opportunity to apply the lessons learned from this
class in their own research areas as well. It is highly recommended that students come to
this class with prior coursework on methods/methodology, such as POL S 503, 501, 504
or POL S 541/ CRM 540.
REQUIRED READINGS AND COURSE MATERIALS
Books Available for Purchase at the Bookie:
Brady, Henry E. and David Collier. Ed. 2004. Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools,
Shared Standards. Boulder: Rowman & Littlefield.
Geortz, Gary. 2006. Social Science Concepts: A Users Guide. Princeton and Oxford:
Princeton University Press.
King, Gary, Robert O. Keohane, and Sidney Verba. 1994. Designing Social Inquiry:
Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research. Princeton: Princeton University
Press.
Lovenduski, Joni, Ed 2005. State Feminism and the Political Representation. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
McBride Stetson, Dorothy and Amy G. Mazur. Eds 1995. Comparative State Feminism.
Thousand Oaks, CA and London: Sage Publications.
McBride Stetson, Dorothy, Ed. 2001. Abortion Politics, Women’s Movements and the
Democratic State: A Comparative Study of State Feminism. Oxford: Oxford
University Press..
Outshoorn, Joyce.Ed. 2004. The Politics of Prostitution: Women’s Movements,
Democratic States and the Globalisation of Sex Commerce. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
Ragin, Charles C. 2000. Fuzzy-Set Social Science. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
Other Readings
Several readings will be made available in hard copy in a course file in Johnson Tower
713—the access code for the room is 6135. They are indicated in the syllabus by a J.
When individual articles are unmarked it means that you can download them from the
WSU library journal delivery system.
Electronic RNGS Materials
The following electronic documents will made be available to you as well as additional
individual RNGS documents indicated in the syllabus by an E.
RNGS Codebook. 2006.
**Note that you should print out the complete codebook.
RNGS Text Appendices. 2006.
RNGS Dataset. 2006.
**Note you will need SPSS to be able to use the dataset.
Mazur, Amy G. Ed. 2001. State Feminism, Women’s Movements, and Job Training:
Making Democracies Work in the Global Economy. New York and London:
Routledge.
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Haussman, Melissa and Birgit Sauer Ed. 2007. Gendering the State in the Age of
Globalization. Women's Movements and State Feminism in Post Industrial
Democracies. Boulder & London: Rowman & Littlefield.
GRADE
The grade for this class has three components, all of equal weight. Please note that I do
not accept late assignments.
1. Participation
You will be expected to come to each class prepared to discuss all of the required
readings and assigned materials. You will be graded on whether your class intervention
each week reflects that you have done the reading and/or mastered the materials assigned
for that week and have thought about how the readings/materials fit into the specific topic
for that class and the larger issues of the course. You are allowed one unexcused
absence, after that you will receive a 0 for each missed class
2. Methods Exercises
Five methodological exercises are assigned throughout the semester with specific
instructions indicated in the schedule of the syllabus, all of are of equal weight.
4. Research Design/ Research Paper
In your area of research, develop a research design, conduct a specific research
project, or operationalize a concept that applies a bridging approach. Your work should
build from research already conducted in the specific area. The paper should be 15 to
20 pages, in length – excluding the bibliography--double-spaced, include a bibliography
and be submitted to my office no later than 9:00 am May 7th. The last class on April 24th
will consist of a brainstorming session in which you will informally present the idea for
your paper to the class for feedback for the final paper. APSA/APA guidelines for
references and citations. Papers will be graded on how well you understand the bridging
strategies and issues covered in the class and apply them in your area of expertise.
SCHEDULE
January 9th
Course Introduction
I. Bridging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide through RNGS: An Introduction
January 16th
The Interface Between Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches
Brady and Collier, Preface, Chapter 1,2, 11-13
King, Keohane and Verba, Preface Chapters 1-3
Mahoney, James and Gary Goertz. 2006. “A Tale of Two Cultures: Contrasting
Quantitative and Qualitative Research.” Political Analysis. 14: 227-249.
Brady, Henry E. David Collier and Jason Seawright. 2006. “Toward a Pluralist Vision of
Methodology.” Political Analysis. 14:353-368.
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***STUDENTS SHOULD START BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH ALL
TERMS IN GLOSSARY IN BRADY AND COLLIER WITH THE GOAL OF AN
OPERATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THEM BY THE END OF THE COURSE***
January 23
Bridging Strategies and Mixed Methods
Brady and Collier, C. 10.
JMcBride, Dorothy E. and Amy G. Mazur. Building A (Data) Bank While Crossing The
Bridge: RNGS Strategies To Integrate Qualitative And Quantitative
Methods. Submitted to Journal of Perspectives on Politics, June 2006.
JCresswell, John W. 2003. “Mixed Methods Procedures. In Cresswell. Research Design:
Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage. 208-236.
JBeck, Nathaniel. 2006.“ Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Can They Be Joined.”
Paper Presented at the APSA Meetings. Philadelphia. 2006. Available on
APSAnet for members or in JT files.
Lieberman, Evan. 2005. “Nested Analysis as a Mixed-Method Strategy for Comparative
Research.” American Political Science Review. 99(3) 453-452.
January 30th
Getting to Know the RNGS Project: Research Questions, Theory, and Measurement
RNGS Codebook.
Read carefully Parts I-III and Appendix 6. Skim the rest.
RNGS Dataset.
Open and familiarize yourself with contents.
Skim Introductions and books in general to see how each one relates to the project.
CSF
McBride, 2001.
Mazur, 2001.
Outshoorn, 2004.
Lovenduski, 2005.
Hausmann and Sauer, 2007
February 6th
Class Cancelled
II. Bridging Strategies in Concept Formation and Application
February 13th
Concept Formation and Use in Theory-Building
Goertz. Read All.
RNGS Applications:
February 20th Moving from Qualitative to Quantitative Concepts in the RNGS
Project
RNGS Codebook. Read carefully Part III.
Other materials to consult—CSF, RNGS Issue Books, RNGS Project Description in
Appendix 6 of Codebook and RNGS dataset.
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METHODS EXCERISE 1: In a 5-10 page essay, discuss how RNGS moved from the
concepts first used in CSF to the qualitative phase and then to the quantitative phase both
in terms of use in the analytical model and operationalization of concepts. Your essay
should reflect that you have examined how the RNGS project has operationalized
concepts at various stages. The topic of this essay will also be the object of our
discussion. You should write a draft version or an outline of this essay as a means for
preparing for discussion. Essays should be double-spaced and use APA/APSA reference
system—include a list of references if necessary. DUE IN CLASS ON 2/26.
February 26th Measuring, Coding and Collecting Data for the Quantitative
Concepts: Overview
CLASS MEETS ON MONDAY AT 6:10 INSTEAD OF ON TUESDAY
Use same materials as listed for previous class.
In addition, consult Text appendices in electronic form—you may want to print a few
pages out.
E Coding Template, Debate Worksheet Template.
E Sample Debate Worksheets.
METHODS EXERCISE 2:
For two debates to be assigned in class:
1) Fill in as much information as possible for debate worksheets from the chapters,
For three debates to be assigned in class:
2) Fill in appendices information. THESE SHOULD NOT DUPLICATE WHAT
IS IN THE APPENDICES.
3) Fill in two coding sheets for concepts except for concepts 13,21, and 22.
I will send you the debate worksheets for those debates. DO NOT DO ASSIGNMENT
DUE IN CLASS ON MARCH 6TH.
March 6th
Measuring, Coding and Collecting Data for the Quantitative Concepts: The
Women’s Movement
RNGS. 2006 Codebook: Concepts 13, 21 and 22, pertinent concept modules in Appendix
3 and Appendix 6.
E.RNGS. Women’s movement measurement sheets.
J McBride, Dorothy E. and Mazur, Amy G. “Women’s Movement, Feminism and
Feminist Movements” In Goertz and Mazur, eds.Politics, Gender and Concepts. In
Progress.
METHODS EXERCISE 3: In an 5-10 page essay, discuss how the women’s movement
was first operationalized and measured in CSF, then in the qualitative books and the
quantitative dataset. The topic of this essay will also be the object of our discussion.
You should write a draft version or an outline of this essay as a means for preparing for
discussion. Essays should be double-spaced and use APA/APSA reference system—
include a list of references if necessary. DUE IN CLASS ON 3/20.
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****SPRING BREAK March 12th- March 16th
III. Qualitative Tools in A Quantitative Perspective: Case Study, Comparative
Method, and QCA
March 20th Understanding Qualitative Tools in a Quantitative Perspective
Collier and Brady, Chapters 6, 7-8.
King, Keohane and Verba, 4-5.
J Collier. 1993. "The Comparative Method." In Finifter, ed.Political Science: The State
of the Discipline II. APSA.
Bennett, Andrew and Colin Elman. 2006. “Complex Causal Relations and Case Study
Methods: The Example of Path Dependence” Political Analysis. 14:250-267.
Goertz talk Friday, March 23rd
(Required)
March 27th RNGS Applications
Conclusions in
CSF
McBride, 2001.
Mazur, 2001.
Outshoorn, 2004.
Lovenduski, 2005.
Hausmann and Sauer, 2007
METHODS EXERCISE 4: In a 5-10 page essay, discuss how CSF II and the qualitative
RNGS books used the cases to develop theoretical propositions. Which methods did they
use? Did they take into consideration quantitative issues as well as qualitative? The topic
of this essay will also be the object of our discussion. You should write a draft version or
an outline of this essay as a means for preparing for discussion. Essays should be doublespaced and use APA/APSA reference system—include a list of references if necessary.
DUE IN CLASS ON 4/3.
April 3rd
QCA: A Closer look
Ragin, Read all.
April 10th QCA and RNGS
Guest Expert: Dorothy McBride
ERNGS QCA Primer
ERNGS QCA Tables
METHODS EXERCISE 5: TBA DUE 4/17.
April 17th
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Mixed Methods Research and Bridging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide: RNGS
And Beyond
RE-READ:
EMcBride, Dorothy E. and Amy G. Mazur. Building A (Data) Bank While Crossing The
Bridge: RNGS Strategies To Integrate Qualitative And Quantitative
Methods. Submitted to Journal of Perspectives on Politics, June 2006.
JCresswell, John W. 2003. “Mixed Methods Procedures. In Cresswell. Research Design:
Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage. 208-236.
Lieberman, Evan. 2005. “Nested Analysis as a Mixed-Method Strategy for Comparative
Research.” American Political Science Review. 99(3) 453-452.
New Examples of Mixed Methods Studies to Review:
JBrahm, Eric. 2006. “A Multi Method Exploration of Truth Commissions.” Paper
Presented at the APSA Meetings. Philadelphia. 2006. Available on APSAnet for
members or in JT files.
JSjoberg, Laura and Marcou Christopher. 2006. “Was Iraq a Threat to International
Peace and Security? Methodological Insights to Explore the Questions.” Paper Presented
at the APSA Meetings. Philadelphia. 2006. Available on APSAnet for members or in JT
files.
****EACH STUDENT BRINGS TO CLASS AND PRESENTS AN EXAMPLE OF
MIXED METHODS RESEARCH FROM THEIR OWN FIELD, SUB FIELD.
April 24th
Informal Presentation of Draft Research Designs, Projects, Papers
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