Introduction to research methods
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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.
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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)
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NO
Quantitative Methods
Qualitative Methods
Mixed Methods
Comparative Methods
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Science
Science
Science
Science
Science
Science
Science
is
is
is
is
is
is
is
progressive
rational
creative
dynamic
open
“critical”
never-ending
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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?
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Develop an idea to investigate or a problem
to solve
Hypothesis formation
Research
Decision
Modification and Extension
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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
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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’
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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
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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
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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
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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?
 Experiment, observation, interview, survey
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SECONDARY: data collected by someone
else, usually for a different purpose
Examples please?
 Archives, databases, Web pages
Dr Taran Patel Bus Res Meth: 1
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Quantitative methods
◦ Experiment
◦ Survey
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Qualitative methods
◦ Observations
◦ Interviews
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Mixed methods
◦ Combination of quantitative and qualitative
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Quantitative methods
◦ Statistics
◦ Social network analysis
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Qualitative methods
◦ Content analysis
◦ Grounded theory
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Mixed methods
◦ Combination of quantitative and qualitative
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Thank you