1. The Research Process in the Discipline of Politics by Renske Doorenspleet

2. 2 of 22 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. (see also De Vaus 2001: Chapter 1) What is a research design?

3. 3 of 22 What will be studied ? Why will it be studied ? How will it be studied ? (see also Blaikie 2005: Chapter 1-2) Three basic questions of a research design

4. 4 of 22 Contents of this lecture (A) What? Research topics and question (B) Why? Relevance and puzzle (C) How? The research process (D) How? Your research strategy (E) overview of this research module

5. 5 of 22 (A) What will be studied? 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 See newspapers and journals for topics! Academic research has infinite number of topics ↔ applied research is limited

6. 6 of 22 (A) What will be studied? Types of research questions: What?  descriptions Why?  explanations How?  change / mechanisms

7. 7 of 22 (A) What will be studied? 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. 8 of 22 (A) What will be studied? Criteria of good research questions clear answerability interconnectedness substantially relevant (see also Punch 2005: Chapter 3)

9. 9 of 22 (B) Why will it be studied? personal (curiosity & career, taste & training) academic (literature, theory, models) social (people, politics and policy)

10. 10 of 22 (C) How will it be studied? 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. 11 of 22 (D) How will it be studied? but… research is a seamless web without a clear order and without a defined beginning or end (Mann 1981)

12. 12 of 22 (D) How will it be studied? T he 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. 13 of 22 (D) How will it be studied? Elements of the research process Topic / problem research questions and objectives research strategies theories (and hypotheses and models) concepts (and measurements) case selection data collection and selection data analyses conclusion with answers to research question strengths and weaknesses of own research implications for existing knowledge direction for future research Writing and publication of the research report (see also Blaikie 2005: p. 33)

14. 14 of 22 (D) How will it be studied? Experimental design Racial Discrimination in England by W. Daniel, Penguin, 1968 Cross-sectional analysis Political Choice in Britain by Clarke, Sanders, Stewart, and Whiteley, Oxford University Press, 2004 Longitudinal design Political Change in Britain by David Butler and Donald Stokes, Macmillan, 1974 Case study design The Politics of Accommodation. Pluralism and Democracy in the Netherlands, by Arend Lijphart, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1968 Comparative design Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms & Performance in Thirty-six Countries. by Arend Lijphart, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999 (see also Burnham et al. 2004, chapter 2 and Bryman 2004, Chapter 2) Types of research designs and your research strategy

15. 15 of 22 Experimental design : Racial Discrimination What → Research Question: Is there racial discrimination in the employment and housing markets, and if so, to what extent? Why → Research Relevance: First experimental research on racial discrimination in Britain in the 1960s How → Research Strategy:experimental design Daniel employed African-Caribbean, Hungarian and English actors, all claiming the same qualifications and references, to apply for jobs. Publication of research: Racial Discrimination in England by W. Daniel, Penguin, 1968 (D) How will it be studied?

16. 16 of 22 Cross-sectional analysis : Political Choice in Britain What → Research Question: How can voting behaviour during the British elections 2001 be explained? Why → Research Relevance: Understanding and explaining voting behaviour during elections of 2001 How → Research Strategy:cross-sectional analysis National random sample of the electorate interviewed during general elections of 2001 Publication of research: Political Choice in Britain by Clarke, Sanders, Stewart, and Whiteley, Oxford University Press, 2004 (D) How will it be studied?

17. 17 of 22 Longitudinal panel design : Political change in Britain What → Research Question: How can changes in voting behaviour be explained? Why → Research Relevance: The most detailed study of British voting behaviour to that date How → Research Strategy:Longitudinal panel study National random sample of the electorate interviewed over the course of five general elections, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1974 (Feb & Oct) Publication of research: Political Change in Britain by David Butler and Donald Stokes, Macmillan, 1974 (D) How will it be studied?

18. 18 of 22 Case study design : Divided Society and Democratic Politics What → Research Question: How to explain that countries with deeply divided societies along ethnic, religious, ideological, or other cleavages can have stable democratic regimes at the same time? Why → Research Relevance: Understand ‘odd’ Dutch case which combined stable democracy with a heavily divided society How → Research Strategy:case study design Lijphart focused only on the Netherlands in the 1960s (country with stable democracy and divided society). Publication of research: The Politics of Accommodation. Pluralism and Democracy in the Netherlands, by Arend Lijphart, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1968.. (D) How will it be studied?

19. 19 of 22 Comparative design : Divided Society and Democratic Politics What → Research Question: Do some forms of democracies perform better than other forms? Why → Research Relevance: Explore whether consensus democracies perform better than majoritarian types of democracies How → Research Strategy:Comparative design Lijphart compared 36 established democracies Publication of research: Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms & Performance in Thirty-six Countries, by Arend Lijphart, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999 (D) How will it be studied?

20. 20 of 22 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 Review of Wittgenstein’s thesis: ‘This is work of a genius. It is also up to the standard required for a Cambridge PhD’ Doing your own research: some additional advice (D) How will it be studied?

21. 21 of 22 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 (D) How will it be studied? (see also Silverman 2005: Chapter 5)

22. 22 of 22 (E) Overview of research module Week 4: role of theory Week 5: data collection Week 7: concepts and measurements Week 8: quantitative research Week 9: qualitative research Week 10: mixing methods Spring term: some specific methods