Writing your Dissertation in the Discipline of Politics and International Studies by Renske Doorenspleet workshop MA dissertation May 2009

2 of 37 How to write a dissertation? What do we need? Elements of the research process (and your dissertation)  structure! (A) research design (B) topics (C) research questions (D) research strategies (E) theories and hypotheses (F) concepts, variables and measurements (G) case selection (H) data collection (I) data analyses (J) conclusion (K) writing of dissertation (including notes and bibliography) (L) submission of dissertation (see also Blaikie 2005: p. 33)

3 of 37 Definition: first step in research process, the logical structure and plan of research project Function: to ensure that the evidence obtained enables us to answer the initial question as clearly as possible. tells you about what, why and how a topic will be studied! (see also De Vaus 2001: Chapter 1) (A) What is a research design?

4 of 37 Definition: first step in research process, the logical structure and plan of research project Function: to ensure that the evidence obtained enables us to answer the initial question as clearly as possible. tells you about what, why and how a topic will be studied! (see also De Vaus 2001: Chapter 1) (A) What is a research design?

5 of 37 (B) Topics ethnic identity, British politics, terrorism, democracy, social policy, war and conflict, AIDS, Sri Lanka, education, development aid, global warming, justice, United Nations, gender, Chile, international trade, Africa, ideology, welfare state etc (see ‘dissertation topic’ workshop!) Academic research has infinite number of topics ↔ applied research is limited

6 of 37 (C) Research questions Types of research questions: What?  descriptions Why?  explanations How?  change / mechanisms

7 of 37 (C) Research questions R ole of research questions organization, direction and coherence boundaries focus framework link with needed methods and data (see also Punch 2005: Chapter 3)

8 of 37 (C) Research questions Criteria of good research questions clear answerability interconnectedness substantially relevant (see also Punch 2005: Chapter 3)

9 of 37 (C) Research questions Why focus on a specific question? personal (curiosity & career, taste & training) academic (literature, theory, models) social (people, politics and policy)

10 of 37 (D) Research strategies The linear model Problem formulation Design of final data collection instrument Design of final sample Data analysis Coding and checking Pilot study Design of data collection instrument Sample design Data specification Data collection (see also Burnham et al. 2004: p. 43)

11 of 37 (D) Research strategies but… research is a seamless web without a clear order and without a defined beginning or end

12 of 37 (D) Research strategies The research wheel Theory Research Questions Concepts New theory Data analysis Data collection Case Selection (see also Burnham et al. 2004: p. 46; de Vaus 2001: p.8)

13 of 37 (E) What is a theory? A theory is like a kaleidoscope: A tube, a number of lenses and fragments of coloured glass. When you turn the tube, the shapes and colours change. Different lenses come into play and the combinations of colour and shape shift from one pattern to another. (from O’Brien 1993)

14 of 37 (E) What is a theory? A theory is a systematic explanation for observations that relate to a particular aspect of life (Babbie 2006: Ch. 2) A theory is a set of concepts used to define and/or explain some phenomenon (Silverman 2005: Ch. 7) Examples: theories of revolutions, poverty, war, terrorism, social class, political leadership, voting behaviour

15 of 37 (E) What is a theory? Functions of theories: Framework Guide Explanation of empirical observations Systematize New ideas Debate, exchange of knowledge

16 of 37 (E) What is a theory?

17 of 37 (E) What is a theory? Theoretical idea: Only in a wealthy society can a situation exist in which ‘the mass of the population could intelligently participate in politics and could develop the self-restraint necessary to avoid succumbing to the appeals of irresponsible demagogues. A society divided between a large impoverished mass and a small favored elite would result either in oligarchy (...) or in tyranny’ (Lipset 1959: 75). A concrete example: Lipset’s explanation for democracy Lipset’s research question: Why are some countries democratic and other countries not?

18 of 37 Dominant theory to explain democracy Modernization theories (Lerner 1958; Lipset 1959) Several alternative explanations for democracy Dependency theories (Frank 1967; Amin 1976; Cardoso 1973) World-system theories (Wallerstein 1979) Historical structural theories (Moore 1966; Rueschemeyer et al. 1992) Actor-oriented approaches (Rustow 1970; O'Donnell et al. 1986; Przeworski 1991) (E) What is a theory?

19 of 37 (E) What is a hypothesis? A testable proposition (Silverman 2005: Table 7.2) A statement that can be tested in research (Babbie 2006: 47) Hypothesis testing is designed to detect: significant differences between two or more variables: differences that did not occur by random chance significant relationships between two or more variables: relationships that did not occur by random chance

20 of 37 (E) What is a hypothesis? Good examples on basis of Lipset’s 1959 article: ‘The more economic development, the more democracy in a country’ ‘Economic development is postively related to democracy, with more developed countries being more democratic than less developed countries’

21 of 37 (E) What is a hypothesis? Bad examples on basis of Lipset’s 1959 article: ‘Poor countries are not democratic’ ‘Rich countries are democratic’ Not hypotheses, but more statements!

22 of 37 (E) What is a hypothesis? Good examples from other research: ‘Gender is related to income, with men having a higher income than women’ ‘Men are more likely to earn a high income than are women’ (See also Babbie 2006: 47)

23 of 37 (E) What is a hypothesis? Bad examples from other research: ‘Gender is positively related to income’ ‘Men are positively related to income’ (See also Babbie 2006: 47)

24 of 37 (E) Theories are crucial !!! Translation of Dutch cartoon: Fokke and Sukke know what it is all about in science. Fokke: ‘Very impressive, colleague, but does it also work in theory?’

25 of 37 (F) Concepts and measurements A concept is an idea deriving from a given model (Silverman 2005: Ch. 7) Concepts on basis of Lipset’s 1959 article: Democracy Economic development Dependency and world-system role Class structure Actors Democratic diffusion Civil society

26 of 37 (F) Concepts and measurements Measurements on basis of Lipset’s 1959 article: Level of democracy  Polity data Level of economic development  GNP per capita Level of dependency  trade as % of GDP Type of class structure Level of democratic diffusion Size of civil society

27 of 37 (G) case selection -What are your cases? Countries? Social movements? Ethnic groups? -One case? Justification of case selection needed! -Two or more cases? Justification of cases and comparisons needed

28 of 37 (H) data collection and (I) data analyses -Quantitative or qualitative? -Which methods and techniques? -Literature review -Field research -Interviews -Quantitative statistical analyses (see also Burnham et al for overview methods and techniques)

29 of 37 (J) conclusion Dissertation needs a clear conclusion with answers to research question strengths and weaknesses of own research implications for existing knowledge direction for future research

30 of 37 Build on existing studies: do not reinvent the wheel ! Open to change direction Think critically about own approach Add something concept methods third variable new data combine theories etc Think about implications for future research Doing your own research: some additional advice Criteria original research (J) conclusion (see also Silverman 2005: Chapter 5)

31 of 37 Try to be original not copied, not imitated or translated from anything else novel, independent, critical thinking But don’t try to be a genius Doing your own research: some additional advice (J) conclusion

32 of 37 See slides of this presentation Selection of relevant literature from this presentation: Babbie, E., (2006). The Practice of Social Research, Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company Bryman, A., (2004). Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press Burnham, P., Gilland, K., Grant, W. and Layton-Henry, Z., (2004). Research Methods in Politics, Palgrave Silverman, (2005). Doing Qualitative Research, London: Sage Additional literature on writing process: Greetham, B. (2001) How to Write Better Essays, Palgrave Dunleavy, P. (2003) Authoring a PhD, How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation, Palgrave See also: Notes, references and bibliography: see MA handbook (pp ) (K) writing of dissertation

33 of 37 Submission process: see MA handbook (p. 7 and pp ) Plagiarism = cheating = fraud = penalty! see MA handbook (pp. 39 – 40) Grading system and criteria of different marks: see MA handbook (pp ) (L) submission of dissertation