POLSC251: Research Methods in Political Science « Saylor.org – Free Online Courses Built by Professors

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Research Methods in Political Science

Purpose of Course show close

Research is an important component of political science; it enables us to uncover evidence, develop theories, and better understand how the political world operates. This course will introduce you to some of the basic research tools in the political scientist’s “toolkit,” and discuss why and how certain tools are used to explore certain phenomena. The course will also teach you to develop and evaluate sensible and systematic scientific research designs by addressing the ways in which data and theory intersect and examining how political scientists quantify, measure, and operationalize the concepts and variables that are key to understanding the political world. You will conclude your studies by learning about the practical implementation of research design. By the end of this course, you will better understand the qualitative and quantitative techniques that are used within the field and will be able to explain why political scientists choose to use them. In this regard, you will have the opportunity to use data and statistical analysis to gain an appreciation for the methodological choices that researchers in the field make as they conduct research.

Course Information show close

Welcome to Research Methods in Political Science. General information about this course and its requirements can be found below.

Primary Resources: This course is composed of a range of different free, online materials. However, the course makes primary use of the following materials:

The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods
iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods Lecture Series from Fall 2006 and Spring 2007
Wadsworth Cengage Learning: “Statistics Workshops”
Wadsworth Cengage Learning: “Research Methods Workshops”
Web Center for Social Research Methods: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base
Directory of Open Access Journals

Requirements for Completion: In order to complete this course, you will need to work through each unit and all of its assigned materials. Units 1 and 2 will lay the foundation for understanding how the scientific method relates to political science. This will be essential to understanding the rest of the course. You will also need to complete the following:

Subunit 1.1 Quiz
Subunit 4.1.1 Quiz
Subunit 4.1.2 Quiz
Subunit 4.2 Quiz
Subunit 4.2.3 Quiz
Subunit 4.5
Subunit 5.1
Subunit 5.2
Subunit 6.2.2 Quiz
Subunit 6.2.3
Subunit 6.2.4
Subunit 6.3
Subunit 6.3.2
Subunit 6.3.4
Subunit 6.4.2
Subunit 8.1
The Final Exam

Note that you will only receive an official grade on your Final Exam. However, in order to adequately prepare for this exam, you will need to work through the quizzes and problem sets listed above.

In order to pass this course, you will need to earn a 70% or higher on the Final Exam. Your score on the exam will be tabulated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam, you may take it again.

Time Commitment: This course should take you a total of 91 hours to complete. Each unit includes a time advisory that lists the amount of time you are expected to spend on each subunit. These should help you plan your time accordingly. It may be useful to take a look at these time advisories and to determine how much time you have over the next few weeks to complete each unit, and then to set goals for yourself. For example, Unit 1 should take you 6.5 hours. Perhaps you can sit down with your calendar and decide to complete subunit 1.1 (a total of 2.5 hours) on Monday night; Subunits 1.2 and 1.3 (a total of 2.5 hours) on Tuesday night; etc.

Tips/Suggestions: As noted in the Course Requirements, you will need basic math skills to complete this course. While this is not a class in statistics, you will need to understand some basic probability theory and statistical applications. You will not need to calculate statistics by hand. I would suggest thinking about the big picture in the quantitative analysis sections in Units 5 and 6. Do not get bogged down in understanding the details of the calculations. Rather, focus on how these methods can be used to answer political science research questions.

As you read, take careful notes on a separate sheet of paper. The article “Guidelines for Effective Reading and Not Taking”is useful in providing direction in your reading and note taking in this course.

Finally, Research Methods Network offers a website where students, faculty, and researchers can ask any questions pertaining to research methods and design. Don’t be afraid to ask questions even about basic concepts. That is the intention of the network.

Learning Outcomes show close

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to

describe the relationship between the scientific method and political science;
formulate research questions, theories, and hypotheses;
describe the basics of the standard research approaches in political science;
evaluate the soundness of a research design;
perform basic statistical analyses; and
execute basic research in the political science discipline.

Course Requirements show close

In order to take this course, you must

√ have access to a computer;

√ have continuous broadband Internet access;

√ have the ability/permission to install plug-ins (e.g. Adobe Reader or Flash) and software;

√ have the ability to download and save files and documents to a computer;

√ have the ability to open Microsoft Office files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.);

√ have competency in the English language;

√ have basic math skills; and

√ have read the Saylor Student Handbook.

Unit Outline show close

1 The Science of Politics
1.1 Social Science and the Scientific Method
1.2 Defining Political Science and the Phenomena that Political Scientists Study
1.3 Is Political Science a Science?
1.4 Knowledge and Research
1.4.1 Basic Research Concepts
1.4.2 The Research Process
1.5 Further Study Suggestions

2 Foundations: Theories and Hypotheses
2.1 The Functions of Theory
2.1.1 Paradigms and Theory
2.1.2 The Building Blocks of Theory
2.1.3 Approaches to Theorizing
2.1.4 Examples of Theories
2.2 Hypotheses
2.2.1 What is a Hypothesis?
2.2.2 Types of Hypotheses: the Null and Alternative Hypothesis
2.3 The Relationship between Theory and Hypotheses
2.4 Hypothesis Testing
2.5 Internal and External Validity
2.6 Further Study Suggestions

3 Research Design
3.1 Standard Research Article/Project Structure
3.2 A General Description of Research Design
3.3 Causality
3.3.1 Understanding Variables: Dependent and Independent Variables
3.3.2 Causation vs. Correlation
3.3.3 Causation vs. Spurious Associations and Coincidence
3.4 Experimental Design
3.4.1 Grouping: Test Group and the Control Group
3.4.2 The Importance of Random Assignment
3.4.3 Strengths/Weaknesses of Experimental Design
3.4.4 Quasi-Experiments
3.5 Non-Experimental Design
3.5.1 Survey Research
3.5.2 Case Studies
3.5.3 Historical Analysis
3.5.4 Comparative Analyses
3.5.5 Developing Your Own Research Questions
3.6 Further Study Suggestions

5 Quantitative Methods: Descriptive Statistics
5.1 Describing Variables
5.1.1 Data Preparation
5.1.2 Descriptive Statistics
5.2 Further Study Suggestions

6 Quantitative Methods: Inferential Statistics
6.1 Understanding Inferential Statistics
6.1.1 Making Comparisons
6.1.2 Cross-Tabulations
6.1.3 Research Using the Chi-Square Statistic
6.1.4 Calculating Variance and Standard Deviation
6.1.5 Interpreting Standard Deviation
6.2 Statistical Significance Testing & Hypothesis Testing
6.2.1 Defining Statistical Significance
6.2.2 Z-Scores
6.2.3 Standard Error
6.2.4 Assessing the Evidence for Hypotheses: P-values and Significance Tests
6.3 Difference of Means Tests
6.3.1 One Sample Z-Test
6.3.2 One Sample t-Test
6.3.3 T-test for Dependent Means
6.3.4 T-test for Independent Means
6.4 Correlation
6.4.1 Defining Correlation
6.4.2 Understanding and Calculating Correlation Coefficients
6.5 Multivariate Analysis
6.6 Regression and Multivariate Regression
6.7 Further Study Suggestions

7 Qualitative Methods
7.1 Qualitative Research in Political Science
7.1.1 Qualitative Scientific Research
7.1.2 Types of Qualitative Research
7.2 Participant Observation
7.3 In-Depth Interviews
7.4 Focus Groups
7.5 Further Study Suggestions

8 Ethics in Social Science Research
8.1 Research Ethics
8.2 A Famous Example of Unethical Research
8.3 Further Study Suggestions

9 Final Exam

Expand All Resources Collapse All Resources

Unit 1: The Science of Politics

This unit will serve as an introduction to the scientific study of politics. As a social science, political science straddles both the hard and soft science worlds. Hard science is characterized by strict and rigorous scientific standards with close attention to formal standards for hypothesis formulation and testing. Soft sciences are more informal relying on interpretive approaches. Thus, political science borrows research methods and theories from various other disciplines – history, economics, psychology, anthropology, and even biology and neurology. The reading for this unit and other units will rely heavily on a general social science text supplemented with political science examples. In this unit, you will define political science as a field of research, and you will discuss how and what political scientists study.

Unit 1 Time Advisory show close

Unit 1 Learning Outcomes show close

1.1 Social Science and the Scientific Method

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Preface and Chapter 1: Science and Scientific Research”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Preface and Chapter 1: Science and Scientific Research” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read the preface and “Chapter 1: Science and Scientific Research,” on pages 2–11. Remember that this text is focused on social sciences generally; the same logic discussed in this textbook can be applied to all social sciences including but not limited to political science. Pay close attention to the discussion of science in general, the scientific method, and particularly, the relationship between theory and hypothesis. The latter is critical to understanding research in general and political science research methods.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Scientific Method”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Scientific Method” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Scientific Method,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is about 7 minutes long, for an overview of how the scientific method relates to research. While you will not need to write a paper at this point, pay close attention to his description of how to write a research paper to help you understand this process. More detail on research papers will be provided later.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “What Is Science?”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “What Is Science?” (HTML)

Instructions: Please work through this tutorial. You must click “next” at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 10 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. Attempt to respond to the question by typing your answer, and then click on “Instructor’s Answer” to read the instructor’s response. This article details the principles that were laid out in the previous reading in this subunit.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “What Is Science? Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “What Is Science? Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link aboev and complete this quiz.

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1.2 Defining Political Science and the Phenomena that Political Scientists Study

Reading: Wikipedia: “Political Science”
Link: Wikipedia: “Political Science” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, noting the historical roots and breadth of political science as a discipline and the breadth of methods used to study politics.

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1.3 Is Political Science a Science?

Reading: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center: “Political Science”
Link: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center: “Political Science” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article. Note that this discussion of political science clearly indicates that it can be scientific.

Terms of Use: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 2.5 License. It is attributed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the original version can be found here.
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Reading: The Guardian: David Wearing’s “How Scientific Is Political Science?”
Link: The Guardian: David Wearing’s “How Scientific Is Political Science?” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Note that this article challenges the idea that political science can be scientific. You may recognize this article from POLSC101. Here, you should try to compare this article to the first article by The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in this subunit. The first article asserts that political science can be scientific, and this one challenges that perspective. Make sure to take notes on the claims based on each article, and try to develop your own reasoning as to what makes this discipline scientific or not.

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Reading: The New York Times: Patricia Cohen’s “Field Study: Just How Relevant Is Political Science?”
Link: The New York Times: Patricia Cohen’s “Field Study: Just How Relevant Is Political Science?” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, which was also used in POLSC101. In this course, review the article, which is used to point to the implications of whether political science is perceived as scientific.

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1.4 Knowledge and Research

1.4.1 Basic Research Concepts

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 2: Thinking like a Researcher”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 2: Thinking like a Researcher” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 2: Thinking like a Researcher” on pages 13–19. This chapter defines and details some of the basic concepts necessary to understand the rest of the material covered in this course such as unit of analysis, variables, theory, hypotheses, and models.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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1.4.2 The Research Process

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 3: The Research Process”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 3: The Research Process” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 3: The Research Process” on pages 19–26. This chapter builds on Chapter 2 and further details the assumptions in the research process.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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1.5 Further Study Suggestions

Optional Reading: University of Rochester: Frank Wolfs’ “Introduction to the Scientific Method”
Link: University of Rochester: Frank Wolfs’ “Introduction to the Scientific Method” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. Frank Wolfs, a physicist at the University of Rochester offers a great introduction to the scientific method.

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Optional Reading: Serendipity: Peter Meyer’s “An Essay in the Philosophy of Social Science”
Link: Serendipity: Peter Meyer’s “An Essay in the Philosophy of Social Science” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. The essay offers a critiqueof empirical studies of human behavior, questioning whether political science is always science.

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Optional Reading: Robotwise: Jorn Barger’s “The Scientific Method, Applied to Human Sciences”
Link: Robotwise: Jorn Barger’s “The Scientific Method, Applied to Human Sciences” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. Jorn Barger offers a critique of the scientific method applied to social sciences and human behavior.

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The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
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Optional Reading: Stanford University: The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: “Science and Pseudo-Science”
Link: Stanford University: The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: “Science and Pseudo-Science” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. The entry offers a good discussion of how researchers and scholars demarcate science from “pseudo-science.”

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Optional Reading: University of Windsor: Michael Dartnell’s “Online Research Guide to Political Inquiry”
Link: University of Windsor: Michael Dartnell’s “Online Research Guide to Political Inquiry” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. The site offers helpful links to theory and analysis sties and writing resources with a focus on international studies.

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Unit 2: Foundations: Theories and Hypotheses

Before you design, conduct, and evaluate research in the field of political science, you must understand the nuts and bolts of study in a more general sense. This unit will define the terms theory and hypothesis and will provide you with some pointers on how to develop and test them. By the end of this unit, you will understand how theories are formulated and how they can help you develop clear, scientific hypotheses that can be tested through the research process.

Unit 2 Time Advisory show close

Unit 2 Learning Outcomes show close

2.1 The Functions of Theory

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 4: Theories in Scientific Research”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 4: Theories in Scientific Research” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 4: Theories in Scientific Research” on pages 28–37. This chapter details how theory is used in the social sciences. It also lays a foundation for what constitutes a good theory and offers examples of theories. Note that this reading will cover the material you need to know for subunits 2.1 through 2.3 and any inclusive subunits.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Paradigms vs. Theories”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Paradigms vs. Theories” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Paradigms vs. Theories” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is about 15 minutes long, for an overview of how paradigms and theories work in the social sciences. Note that this lecture will cover the material you need to know for subunits 2.1 through 2.3 and any inclusive subunits.

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2.1.1 Paradigms and Theory

Note: Thomas Kuhn and Imre Lakatos prominently wrote and influence the way scientists in many fields thought about the development of theories and paradigmatic shifts in assumptions about what can be known and studied. The readings below introduce you to Kuhn and Lakatos and their principle ideas and influence.

Reading: The Guardian: John Naughton’s “Thomas Kuhn: the man who changed the way the world looked at science”
Link: The Guardian: John Naughton’s “Thomas Kuhn: the man who changed the way the world looked at science” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, which offers a concise discussion of the prominence of Thomas Kuhn’s arguments regarding the evolution of science and the developing of dynamic scientific paradigms.

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Reading: Loyola University New Orleans: Henry Folse’s “Lakatos’s Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes”
Link: Loyola University New Orleans: Henry Folse’s “Lakatos’s Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Like Thomas Kuhn, Imre Lakatos is among the most prominent theorists of modern science in western history.

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2.1.2 The Building Blocks of Theory

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath Subunit 2.1. Focus on the text below the header “Building Blocks of a Theory” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn about how the concepts discussed in Subunit 1.4.1 relate to theory.

2.1.3 Approaches to Theorizing

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath Subunit 2.1. Focus on the text below the header “Approaches to Theorizing” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn about four different ways researchers use theory in the social sciences.

2.1.4 Examples of Theories

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath Subunit 2.1. Focus on the text below the header “Examples of Social Science Theories” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn about some common theories used in the social sciences.

2.2 Hypotheses

2.2.1 What is a Hypothesis?

Reading: Fayetteville State University: Professor D. Wallace’s “Steps in Hypothesis Testing”
Link: Fayetteville State University: Professor D. Wallace’s “Steps in Hypothesis Testing” (PDF)

Instructions: Scroll down to “Lecture 10” and download the PDF. Please read these lecture notes. Pay close attention to the examples and the three elements a good hypothesis should contain. The brief statistics section at the end serves as a primer for Units 4, 5, and 6.

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2.2.2 Types of Hypotheses: the Null and Alternative Hypothesis

Reading: Web Center for Social Research Methods: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Hypotheses”
Link: Web Center for Social Research Methods: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Hypotheses” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Click on each of the hyperlinks in the article and read those as well. In addition to the description of the difference between a null and alternative hypothesis, pay close attention to the distinction between deductive and inductive reasoning. This is also highlighted in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text.

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2.3 The Relationship between Theory and Hypotheses

Reading: Kent State University: Professor Rashid Bin Muhammad’s “Deduction and Induction”
Link: Kent State University: Professor Rashid Bin Muhammad’s “Deduction and Induction” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, which makes clear that a hypothesis is derived from a theory in deductive reasoning and it goes the opposite way when using inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning is preferable in scientific research, but in instances where we do not have clear theory, inductive reasoning may be used.

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2.4 Hypothesis Testing

Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Statistics-Hypothesis Testing”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Statistics-Hypothesis Testing” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll down to the lecture titled “Statistics-Hypothesis Testing,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is about 17 minutes long, for an overview of how hypotheses are tested. This lecture will also relate to Unit 6 where the material will go into more detail on how statistics are used to test hypotheses.

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2.5 Internal and External Validity

Note: Understanding the concepts of internal and external validity are important to both measurement and research design concerns. The article and tutorial below as well as some of the material in the Further Study section engages with these very important constructs.

Reading: Research Methods in Psychology: “Section 6.1: Experiment Basics”
Link: Research Methods in Psychology: “Section 6.1: Experiment Basics” (PDF)

Instructions: Read this section on internal and external validity as well as other important measurement issues.

Reading this section should take approximately 30 minutes.

Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.
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Web Media: Athabasca University, Centre for Psychology: “Internal Validity Tutorial”
Link: Athabasca University, Centre for Psychology: “Internal Validity Tutorial” (HTML)

Instructions: Spend some time with this tutorial on internal validity. It is important to understand this construct as you move into Unit 3.

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2.6 Further Study Suggestions

Optional Reading: Webster University: Linda M. Woolf’s “Introduction to Measurement and Statistics”
Link: Webster University: Linda M. Woolf’s “Introduction to Measurement and Statistics” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. The site explains different types of measurement scales and how they should be statistically analyzed.

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Optional Reading: Virginia Tech: Statistics Activity Based Learning Environment: “Measurement Scales in Social Science Research”
Link: Virginia Tech: Statistics Activity Based Learning Environment: “Measurement Scales in Social Science Research” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. This tutorial explains measurement scales.

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Optional Reading: California State University, Fresno: John A. Cagle’s “Science and Theories”
Link: California State University, Fresno: John A. Cagle’s “Science and Theories” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article regarding the importance of theory development as the foundation of scientific inquiry.

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Optional Reading: Stat Trek: “What is Hypothesis Testing?”
Link: Stat Trek: “What is Hypothesis Testing?” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article that offers a good discussion of the development of hypothesis statements and hypothesis testing in empirical research.

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Optional Reading: YouTube: zapohd1965’s “Threats to External Validity”
Link: YouTube: zapohd1965’s “Threats to External Validity” (YouTube)

Instructions: This is an optional video that highlights the importance of external validity in research design as well as the challenges.

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Unit 3: Research Design

Before conducting any research, you must create a logical research plan. This unit will detail the standard structure of a research article/project, identify the steps that you should take in order to formulate a strong research design, and present you with an introduction to various types of research designs used in political science in the process.

After detailing the standard structure of a research article/project, we will take a careful look at causal relationships and how they (or assumptions about them) play into research in political science. In previous courses, you learned how to identify and analyze empirical or observable relationships between two variables. In scientific research, however, you must identify the causal relationship between two variables in order to determine whether certain factors produce a particular outcome.

You will then explore the many types of research designs that political scientists use, focusing first on experimental designs, where political scientists manipulate and control variables in unnatural environments in order to test their theories. We will discuss how different experiments are designed and used and weigh their potential strengths and weaknesses. The unit will then present other types of research design, including surveys, data collection pertaining to naturally occurring phenomena, and case studies. Each of these research designs plays an important role within the discipline, though all have drawbacks.

Unit 3 Time Advisory show close

Unit 3 Learning Outcomes show close

3.1 Standard Research Article/Project Structure

Reading: Northwest Missouri State University: Connie Ury and Carolyn Johnson’s “Structure of a Research Article”
Link: Northwest Missouri State University: Connie Ury and Carolyn Johnson’s “Structure of a Research Article” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this webpage. This short summary provides the basic components of a standard research article. There will be examples of articles that conform to this typical format later in this unit.

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3.2 A General Description of Research Design

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherje’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 5: Research Design”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherje’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 5: Research Design” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 5: Research Design” on pages 38–44. This chapter details the primary considerations when selecting a research design and then outlines some of the standard designs including experimental studies, case studies, and field research among others. Pay close attention to the discussion of internal and external validity and causality in general. This chapter will also cover material for subunits 3.3 through 3.5 and any inclusive subunits.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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3.3 Causality

3.3.1 Understanding Variables: Dependent and Independent Variables

Web Media: YouTube: YourTeacher.com’s “Independent and Dependent Variables”
Link: YouTube: YourTeacher.com’s “Independent and Dependent Variables” (YouTube)

Instructions: Watch this brief 2-minute video. This video serves as a preface to the material that will be covered in Subunits 3.3.2 and 3.3.3.

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3.3.2 Causation vs. Correlation

Reading: George Mason University’s Statistical Assessment Service: “What Is the Difference between Causation and Correlation?”
Link: George Mason University’s Statistical Assessment Service: “What Is the Difference between Causation and Correlation?” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, which highlights how correlations between variables are often mistaken as causal relationships.

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3.3.3 Causation vs. Spurious Associations and Coincidence

Reading: Carnegie Mellon University: Richard Scheines’ “Causation”
Link: Carnegie Mellon University: Richard Scheines’ “Causation” (PDF)

Instructions: Please scroll down to the header titled “Causation and Statistics” and open the article titled “Causation” to download the PDF. Read this article, which reinforces the previous material focused on causation and has significant coverage centered on spuriousness and how it affects researchers’ ability to make causal inferences.

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3.4 Experimental Design

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 10: Experimental Research”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 10: Experimental Research” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 10: Experimental Research” on pages 85–94, which details the experimental process. This chapter will also cover material for Subunits 3.4.1 through 3.4.3.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Experiments”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Experiments” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Experiments,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 25 minutes long, for an overview of how experimental research works.

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3.4.1 Grouping: Test Group and the Control Group

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 3.4. Focus on the text below the header “Basic Concepts” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn about the test and control group and their purpose in experimental research. Note that the text refers to the test group as the treatment group. Also, pay close attention to the discussion of these concepts in the lecture and how Cabanacand Bonniot-Cabanac set up the groups in their experiment.

3.4.2 The Importance of Random Assignment

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 3.4. Focus on the text below the header “Random Selection and Assignment” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn about how random assignment increases validity in experimental research. In addition, pay close attention to the discussion of these concepts in the lecture and to the way Cabanacand Bonniot-Cabanac incorporate random selection into their design.

3.4.3 Strengths/Weaknesses of Experimental Design

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 3.4. The strengths and weaknesses of experimental design are addressed throughout Anol Bhattacherjee’s text and the lecture.

3.4.4 Quasi-Experiments

Reading: Web Center for Social Research Methods: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Quasi-Experimental Design”
Link: Web Center for Social Research Methods: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Quasi-Experimental Design” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read the sections titled “Quasi-Experimental Design” through “Advances in Quasi-Experimentation.” Also click on each of the hyperlinks in the assigned article and read those as well. This article gives full coverage of various types of quasi-experiments.

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Reading: National Center for Technology Innovation: “Fraction Assist Software Assists Math Students”
Link: National Center for Technology Innovation: “Fraction Assist Software Assists Math Students” (HTML)

Instructions: Read this article, which provides an applied example of how quasi-experimental research is conducted and used.

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3.5 Non-Experimental Design

3.5.1 Survey Research

Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Survey Building”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Survey Building” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Survey Building,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 11 minutes long, for an overview on how to design surveys.

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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Survey Administration”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Survey Administration” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Strengths and Weaknesses of Surveys,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 11 minutes long, for an overview on how to conduct surveys.

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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Strengths and Weaknesses of Surveys”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Strengths and Weaknesses of Surveys” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Strengths and Weaknesses of Surveys,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 7 minutes long, for an overview on the validity of surveys.

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Reading: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal of Current Chinese Affairs: Min Xia’s “Social Capital and Rural Grassroots Governance in China”
Link: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal of Current Chinese Affairs: Min Xia’s “Social Capital and Rural Grassroots Governance in China” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article. This article provides an actual example of survey research.

Terms of Use: This article is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 License. It is attributed to Min Xia and the original version can be found here.
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Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 9: Survey Research”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 9: Survey Research” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 9: Survey Research” on pages 74-83. This chapter details the process of survey research with discussion of it strengths and weaknesses.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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3.5.2 Case Studies

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 11: Case Research” (PDF)
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 11: Case Research” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 11: Case Research” on pages 95–104. This chapter details the strengths and weaknesses of case study research.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Reading: Studies of Transition States and Societies: Donnacha Ó Beacháin’s “Social and Political Perceptions of the Borat Phenomenon in Kazakhstan: Evidence from a Case Study of University Students”
Link: Studies of Transition States and Societies: Donnacha Ó Beacháin’s “Social and Political Perceptions of the Borat Phenomenon in Kazakhstan: Evidence from a Case Study of University Students” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article, which is a useful example of a case study.

Terms of Use: The material above has been reposted with permission by Donnacha Ó Beacháin. It can be viewed in its original form here.
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3.5.3 Historical Analysis

Reading: Boise State University: Professor E.L. Skip Knox’s “Analyzing Historical Events”
Link: Boise State University: Professor E.L. Skip Knox’s “Analyzing Historical Events” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, which provides a basic description of how to approach historical analysis. Pay attention to the three “Cs” and the four spheres described in this article.

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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Historical”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Historical” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Historical,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 2 minutes long, for an overview on the process of historical analysis.

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Reading: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal of Current Chinese Affairs: James W.Y. Wang’s “The Political Economy of Collective Labour Legislation in Taiwan”
Link: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal of Current Chinese Affairs: James W.Y. Wang’s “The Political Economy of Collective Labour Legislation in Taiwan” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article, which provides an example of historical analysis.

Terms of Use: This article is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 License. It is attributed to James W.Y. Wang and the original version can be found here.
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3.5.4 Comparative Analyses

Reading: WikiSummary: Aaron Lijphart’s “Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method”
Link: WikiSummary: Aaron Lijphart’s “Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method” (HTML)

Instructions: Aaron Lijphart’s writings and books on comparative politics and method are considered among the best and most comprehensive. Read this summary of Lijphart’s important work.

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Reading: Millsaps College: Iren Omo-Bare’s “What is Comparative Politics?”
Link: Millsaps College: Iren Omo-Bare’s “What is Comparative Politics?” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this lecture outlining how comparative research designs in political science are unique and different from other research approaches.

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Lecture: YouTube: PoliSciPaul’s “Scientific Method in Comparative Politics”
Link: YouTube: PoliSciPaul’s “Scientific Method in Comparative Politics” (YouTube)

Instructions: Watch the lecture on conducting research in comparative politics.

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3.5.5 Developing Your Own Research Questions

Note: Each of the above sub-units presented different methods for tackling research questions. Developing and writing research questions are often a challenge for beginning researchers. The two articles below are meant to offer insight in how to develop research question and how to write a research question.

Reading: Empire State College Online Writing Center: “Developing a Research Question”
Link: Empire State College Online Writing Center: “Developing a Research Question” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article.

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Reading: George Mason University Writing Center: “How to Write a Research Question”
Link: George Mason University Writing Center: “How to Write a Research Question” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article.

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3.6 Further Study Suggestions

Optional Reading: Stanford University: Adam Royalty’s “Research as Design Packet”
Link: Stanford University: Adam Royalty’s “Research as Design Packet” (PDF)

Instructions: This is an optional article. The site offers worksheets and templates for thinking through research questions, research designs and potential analyses.

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Optional Reading: Brigham Young University: Lynn Henrichsen, Michael T. Smith,and David S. Baker’s “Research Design and Method”
Link: Brigham Young University: Lynn Henrichsen, Michael T. Smith,and David S. Baker’s “Research Design and Method” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article exploring how the research question is instrumental in the developing of a research design and research method.

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Optional Reading: Link: National Institute of Health, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research: John W. Creswell, Ann Carroll Klassen, Vicki L. Plano Clark, and Katherine Clegg Smith’s “Best Practices for Mixed Methods Research in the Health Sciences”
Link: National Institute of Health, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research: John W. Creswell, Ann Carroll Klassen, Vicki L. Plano Clark, and Katherine Clegg Smith’s “Best Practices for Mixed Methods Research in the Health Sciences” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. Mixed methods approaches integrating quantitative and qualitative designs often offer the most rigorous approaches to addressing research questions. This site offers examples of mixed method approaches in the context of the health sciences.

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Unit 4: Data and Measurement

In this unit, you will learn how political scientists use data and measurement to understand and quantify political phenomena. You will first examine the measurement process, learning the importance of clearly defining the concepts and political phenomena that you are studying. This unit will also take a look at the concepts of the dependent and independent variable in research design and how their characteristics impact the measurement process. Finally, you will learn about data in its many forms, discovering how it is collected and used in the research process. By the end of this unit, you should have a clear understanding of the preliminary steps required for the successful implementation of research design.

Unit 4 Time Advisory show close

Unit 4 Learning Outcomes show close

4.1 Types of Data

Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Types of Data”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Types of Data” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Also click on and read each of the embedded hyperlinks. This article describes the differences between quantitative and qualitative data. This material is applicable to subunits 4.6.1 and 4.6.2.

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4.1.1 Qualitative Data

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 4.1. There are only two types of data: qualitative and quantitative. Pay close attention to the distinction between the two. Being able to define qualitative data is necessary to fully understand Unit 7.

4.1.2 Quantitative Data

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 4.1 There are only two types of data: qualitative and quantitative data. Pay close attention to the distinction between the two. Being able to define quantitative data is necessary to fully understand Unit 5 and 6.

4.2 Sampling

4.2.1 The Central Limit Theorem

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Central Limit Theorem”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Central Limit Theorem” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 28 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries in which you can enter your own answer and then click on “Instructor’s Answer” to compare what you wrote against the instructor’s response. This tutorial lays the foundation for why sampling works.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Central Limit Theorem Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Central Limit Theorem Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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4.2.2 Types of Samples

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Sampling Methods”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Sampling Methods” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 36 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to type in your own answer, and then compare it with the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article details the principles that were laid out in the previous reading in this subunit.

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Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 8: Sampling”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 8: Sampling” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 8: Sampling” on pages 66–74. This chapter details the basic principles of sampling along with the different types of samples. Pay close attention to the reasons why certain samples are selected and the types of statistics associated with sampling.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Sampling Methods Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Sampling Methods Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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4.3 Measurement Process

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 6: Measurement of Constructs”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 6: Measurement of Constructs” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 6: Measurement of Constructs” on pages 45–56. This chapter details how we conceptualize in the social sciences. This will become important as we begin to think about how we operationalize, or measure, variables.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Conceptualization”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Conceptualization” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Conceptualization,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 34 minutes long, for an overview on the process of conceptualization.

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Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Specifying Constructs”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Specifying Constructs” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 11 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to write your own answer, and then compare it with the instructor’s response by clicking “Instructor’s Answer.” This article details the principles that were laid out in the previous reading in this subunit.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Specifying Constructs Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Specifying Constructs Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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4.3.1 Determining a Political Concept

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 4.3. Focus on the text below the header “Conceptualization” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn about concepts are formed in the social sciences. Also, pay close attention to the reading and assignments from Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Details centered on how we move from concept to measurement are provided in all the material in subunit 4.3.

4.4 Operational Definition: Determining How the Concept Is Empirically Measured

Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Operationalization”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Operationalization” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Operationalization,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 7 minutes long, for an overview on how we measure concepts in the social science.

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Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Operational Definitions”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Operational Definitions” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 34 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer the question, and then compare your answer to the instructor’s by clicking on the “Instructor’s Answer” button. This article details the principles that were laid out in the previous reading in this subunit.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Operational Definitions Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Operational Definitions Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on Workshop Quiz from the menu on the left side of the webpage, and complete the quiz.

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4.5 Levels of Measurement

Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Levels of Measurement”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Levels of Measurement” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Also, click on each of the hyperlinks in the assigned article and read those as well. You can then click your back button to get back to the original article. You do not need to click on the hyperlinks in the articles that were linked to the original article. Just click back to the original article.

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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Levels of Measurement”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Levels of Measurement” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Levels of Measurement,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 8 minutes long, for details on the four levels of measurement and how they apply to social science.

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4.6 Units of Analysis

4.6.1 Definition and Importance of Units of Analysis

Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Unit of Analysis”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Unit of Analysis” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Also, click on each of the hyperlinks in the assigned article and read those as well. You can then click your back button to get back to the original article. You do not need to click on the hyperlinks in the articles that were linked to the original article. Just click back to the original article. This reading reinforces the discussion of unit of analysis that occurs throughout Anol Bhattacherjee’s text.

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4.6.2 Understanding and Preventing Ecological Fallacy

Reading: Census Learning and Teaching Materials: “Ecological Fallacy”
Link: Census Learning and Teaching Materials: “Ecological Fallacy” (PDF)

Instructions: Read this entry to learn about the ecological fallacy in statistical research. If you are interested in learning more about the ecological fallacy, there are several additional links embedded within this short reading.

Reading this entry should take approximately 15 minutes.

Terms of Use: This resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. It is attributed to CDU and the original version can be found here.
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4.7 Assessing Measurement

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 7: Scale Reliability and Validity”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 7: Scale Reliability and Validity” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 7: Scale Reliability and Validity” on pages 57–66. This chapter details how you measure variables in the social sciences. Pay close attention to how we assess the validity and reliability of these measures.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Reliability and Validity”
iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Reliability and Validity” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Reliability and Validity,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 21 minutes long, for an overview on reliability and validity in social science measurement.

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Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Confounds – Threats to Validity”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Confounds – Threats to Validity” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 11 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then check your answer by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article details the principles that were laid out in the previous reading in this subunit.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Confounds – Threats to Validity Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Confounds – Threats to Validity Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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4.7.1 Types of Measurement Error

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 4.6. Focus on the text below the header “Theory of Measurement” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text. Pay close attention to the difference between random and systematic error. The lecture in subunit 4.6 also addresses how to avoid measurement error.

4.7.2 Reliability

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 4.6. Focus on the text below the header “Reliability” in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn why reliability is crucial to making inferences. The lecture in subunit 4.6 also addresses the importance of reliable measurement.

4.7.3 Validity

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 4.6. Focus on the text below the header “Validity” and throughout Chapter 6 in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text to learn about different types of validity including face validity, content validity, and others. Also, pay close attention to the reading and assignments from Wadsworth Cengage Learning as well as the lecture in subunit 4.6 for details on threats to validity. The lecture in subunit 4.6 also addresses such threats.

4.7.4 Assessing Reliability and Validity

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 4.6. Throughout Chapter 6 in Anol Bhattacherjee’s text, notice that there is discussion of how to assess reliability and validity in the sections that describe the different types of reliability and validity. Also, pay close attention to the reading and assignments from Wadsworth Cengage Learning as well as the lecture in subunit 4.5 for details on how to test for measurement validity.

4.8 Further Reading Suggestions

Optional Reading: AllPsych Online’s Research Methods:“Chapter 5: Experimental Design”
Link: AllPsych Online’s Research Methods: “Chapter 5: Experimental Design” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. Experimental methods are increasingly common in political science research. This site offers insight in experimental designs, as well as their strengths and limitations.

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Reading: Centre for Research in Social Simulation: “What is Social Simulation?”
Link: Centre for Research in Social Simulation: “What is Social Simulation?” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article.Data simulations are increasingly common in empirical political science. This reading offers an introduction on how simulations are done using data on social behaviors and attitudes.

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Unit 5: Quantitative Methods: Descriptive Statistics

Once political scientists obtain and understand their data, they must find a way to describe it. In this unit, you will learn how political scientists present their data through the use of statistics, exploring some basic statistical concepts including mean, median, and mode. By the end of this unit, you will know how to perform some foundational statistical analysis.

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5.1 Describing Variables

5.1.1 Data Preparation

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 14: Quantitative Analysis: Descriptive Statistics”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 14: Quantitative Analysis: Descriptive Statistics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 14: Quantitative Analysis: Descriptive Statistics” on pages 118–125. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding how social scientists use descriptive statistics. This reading is applicable to this entire unit.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Quantitative Coding”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Quantitative Coding” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Quantitative Coding,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 13 minutes long, for an overview on how social scientists prepare their data for analysis. This lecture applies to both Units 5 and 6.

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Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Quantitative Issues”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Quantitative Issues” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Quantitative Issues,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 9 minutes long, for an overview on how social scientists prepare their data for analysis.

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5.1.2 Descriptive Statistics

Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Descriptive Statistics”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Descriptive Statistics” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Also be sure to click on and read each of the embedded hyperlinks. This article describes data distributions and the measures of central tendency: mean, median, and mode.

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Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Central Tendency and Variability”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Central Tendency and Variability” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 17 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer the question, and then compare it to the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article details the principles that were laid out in the previous reading in this subunit.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistics Workshops: “Central Tendency and Variability Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistics Workshops: “Central Tendency and Variability Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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5.2 Further Study Suggestions

Optional Reading: Davidson College, Department of Biology: “A Beginner’s Guide for Descriptive Statistics”
Link: Davidson College, Department of Biology: “A Beginner’s Guide for Descriptive Statistics” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article.

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Optional Reading: Education Commission of the States: “Understanding Statistics Tutorial”
Link: Education Commission of the States: “Understanding Statistics Tutorial” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article.

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Unit 6: Quantitative Methods: Inferential Statistics

In the last unit, you learned about descriptive statistics, where the goal is to describe and compare variables within a given sample. In this unit, you will learn to use inferential statistics, where the goal is to use a sample to make inferences about the characteristics or relationships in a larger population. You will first learn how to create a sample that represents the qualities and characteristics of a larger population. From there, the unit will delve into the application of inferential statistics, discussing ways of determining whether the sample that you have created is truly representative of the larger population in question. You will learn about statistical significance and other indicators that help determine the strength of your sample and hypothesis and look further into the relationships between variables.

The unit will then discuss the concept of correlation as well as the more complex relationships that regression analysis enables you to discover. Regression analysis allows you to understand the condition and strength of an association between an independent variable and a dependent variable. In this section, you will first learn about more basic, linear regression and then move on to more complex, multivariate, multiple regression analysis. By the end of the unit, you should be able to define a representative sample and run both simple correlation and complex regression analyses to uncover statistically significant relationships between variables in a model.

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6.1 Understanding Inferential Statistics

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 15: Quantitative Analysis: Inferential Statistics”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 15: Quantitative Analysis: Inferential Statistics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 15: Quantitative Analysis: Inferential Statistics” on pages 126–132. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding how social scientists use inferential statistics. This reading is applicable to this entire unit.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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6.1.1 Making Comparisons

Note: Making comparisons between two or more social constructs or variables is at the heart of research design and analysis. Cross-tabulations and chi-square analyses discussed below is a good introduction to making such comparisons. This subunit is covered by the material beenath subunit 6.1.

6.1.2 Cross-Tabulations

Reading: University of Indiana: Robert S. Michael’s “Cross-tabulation & Chi Square”
Link: University of Indiana: Robert S. Michael’s “Cross-tabulation & Chi Square” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article (8 pages). This article describes in detail how cross-tabulations are executed and how chi square tests are used to test for statistical significance.

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Reading: University of Guelph: Dr. Marion Joppe’s “Cross Tabulations”
Link: University of Guelph: Dr. Marion Joppe’s “Cross Tabulations” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, paying special attention to the different way cross tabulations are presented in tabular and graph form.

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6.1.3 Research Using the Chi-Square Statistic

Reading: Wellesley College: “The Χ² (AKA chi-square) Distribution”
Link: Wellesley College: “The Χ² (AKA chi-square) Distribution” (PDF)

Instructions: Read this presentation on Chi Square analyses. Pay close attention to the instructive examples.

Reading this presentation should take approximately 30 minutes.

Terms of Use: This resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0 Generic License. It is attributed to Wellesley College and the original version can be found here.
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6.1.4 Calculating Variance and Standard Deviation

Web Media: YouTube: hknuth123’s “Calculating Variance and Standard Deviation”
Link: YouTube: hknuth123’s “Calculating Variance and Standard Deviation” (YouTube)

Instructions: Watch this video. This video is essential to your understanding of all the statistics in the rest of this unit; if necessary, please view the video multiple times to reinforce your understanding.

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6.1.5 Interpreting Standard Deviation

Web Media: YouTube: tcreelmuw’s “Interpreting the Standard Deviation”
Link: YouTube: tcreelmuw’s “Interpreting the Standard Deviation” (YouTube)

Instructions: Watch this video. This video will help you understand the meaning of standard deviation in practical terms. If necessary, please view the video multiple times to reinforce your understanding.

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6.2 Statistical Significance Testing & Hypothesis Testing

6.2.1 Defining Statistical Significance

Reading: George Mason University, Statistical Assessment Service: “What Does It Mean for a Result to Be Statistically Significant?”
Link: George Mason University, Statistical Assessment Service: “What Does It Mean for a Result to Be Statistically Significant?” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article, which provides a basis for understanding statistical significance. This is crucial to understanding the rest of statistical concepts in this unit.

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6.2.2 Z-Scores

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Z Scores”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Z Scores” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 21 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your answer to the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers the use of z scores.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Chi-Square Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Chi-Square Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Click on the link above to access Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s webpage. Then, please click on Workshop Quiz from the menu on the left of the webpage, and complete the quiz.

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6.2.3 Standard Error

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Standard Error”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Standard Error” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 17 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your answer to the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers the use of standard error.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Standard Error Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Standard Error Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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6.2.4 Assessing the Evidence for Hypotheses: P-values and Significance Tests

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Hypothesis Testing”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Hypothesis Testing” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 16 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your answer to the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers the use of hypothesis testing.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Hypothesis Testing Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Hypothesis Testing Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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6.3 Difference of Means Tests

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Tests of Means”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Tests of Means” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 34 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your answer to the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers the standard tests for differences in means. This reading is applicable to Subunits 6.3.1 through 6.3.4.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Tests of Means”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Tests of Means” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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6.3.1 One Sample Z-Test

Note: This topic is covered in the material beneath subunit 6.3. This is one type of difference of means tests that relies on z-scores described in Subunit 6.2.2.

6.3.2 One Sample t-Test

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Single Sample t-Test”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Single Sample t-Test” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 3 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your answer to the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers the single sample t-test.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Single Sample t-Test”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Single Sample t-Test” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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6.3.3 T-test for Dependent Means

Note: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 6.3. This is one type of difference of means tests that is used when we want to know whether there is a difference between means that are linked or dependent on each other.

6.3.4 T-test for Independent Means

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Independent versus Repeated t-Tests”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Independent versus Repeated t-Tests” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 12 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your answer to the instructor’s response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers the single sample t-test.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Independent versus Repeated t-Tests Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Independent versus Repeated t-Tests Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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6.4 Correlation

6.4.1 Defining Correlation

Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Correlation”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Correlation” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article that describes the basic principles of how to determine if variables are correlated with one another.

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6.4.2 Understanding and Calculating Correlation Coefficients

Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Correlation”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Correlation” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 20 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your answer by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers how correlation coefficients are calculated and used.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Correlation Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Statistic Workshops: “Correlation Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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6.5 Multivariate Analysis

Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “General Linear Model”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “General Linear Model” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Also, click on each of the hyperlinks in the assigned article and read those as well. You can then click your back button to get back to the original article. You do not need to click on the hyperlinks in the articles that were linked to the original article. Just click back to the original article. This reading describes the basic principles of the linear model. Pay particular attention to the latter half of the article, which talks about the use of the model with multiple variables. Also, remember to reflect on chapter 15 of Anol Bhattacherjee’s text, which covers multivariate analysis.

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Reading: AUCO Czech Economic Review: Madeleine O. Hosli and Marc C. J. Uriot’s “Dimensions of Political Contestation: Voting in the Council of the European Union before the 2004 Enlargement”
Link: AUCO Czech Economic Review: Madeleine O. Hosli and Marc C. J. Uriot’s “Dimensions of Political Contestation: Voting in the Council of the European Union before the 2004 Enlargement” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article, which provides an actual example of research using multivariate analysis.

Terms of Use: The material above has been reposted with permission by Madeleine O. Hosli and Marc C. J. Uriot. It can be viewed in its original form here.
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6.6 Regression and Multivariate Regression

Note: Bivariate and multivariate regression are very common ways of conducting inferential statistics in political science. The readings below are meant to give you an introduction to these very important techniques.

Reading: Massachussets Institute of Technology: Peter Dizike’s “Explained: Regression Analysis”
Link: Massachussets Institute of Technology: Peter Dizike’s “Explained: Regression Analysis” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article.

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Web Media: YouTube: plsc240instructor’s “Understanding Regression Analysis”
Link: YouTube: plsc240instructor’s “Understanding Regression Analysis” (HTML)

Instructions: Watch this video about regression analysis.

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Reading: University of Delaware: John H. MacDonald’s Handbook of Biological Statistics: “Multiple Regression”
Link: University of Delaware: John H. MacDonald’s Handbook of Biological Statistics: “Multiple Regression” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article on multiple regression.

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6.7 Further Study Suggestions

Reading: Statsoft: Electronic Statistics Textbook (HTML)
Link: Statsoft: Electronic Statistics Textbook (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional resource.Many political scientists who conduct empirical research rely on statisticians and statistical resources to guide them in their collection and analysis of the data. This site offers one such resource.

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Optional Reading: Rice University, University of Houston Clear Lake, and Tufts University: “Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics”
Link: Rice University, University of Houston Clear Lake, and Tufts University: “Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional resource. If you are interested in some hands-on statistical analysis of some of the central concepts discussed in the course, this is a useful site.

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Unit 7: Qualitative Methods

Not all research in political science is suited for quantitative analysis. More often than not, quantitative analysis is reserved for large-n research, or research in which political scientists take a large sample from a population and make generalizations about that population. Sometimes political scientists use small-n research, where the number of cases included in the study is much smaller. This small-n research is often times qualitative; it provides a different outlook on political phenomena than does large-n quantitative research. In the first subunit, you will explore the benefits and drawbacks of using small-n, qualitative research. This unit will also cover three forms of qualitative analysis: participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group analysis. As with all forms of research, these approaches have their respective advantages and disadvantages.

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7.1 Qualitative Research in Political Science

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 12: Other Qualitative Research” and “Chapter 13: Qualitative Analysis”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 12: Other Qualitative Research” and “Chapter 13: Qualitative Analysis” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read these chapters, on pages 105–117. Chapter 12 introduces the basic concept of qualitative research and presents several qualitative research approaches including interviewing, field observation, and document analysis. Chapter 13 details the process of qualitative data analysis.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Qualitative Measures”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Qualitative Measures” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read the articles from “Qualitative Measures” to “Qualitative Validity.” Also, click on each of the hyperlinks in the assigned article and read those as well. You can then click your back button to get back to the original article. You do not need to click on the hyperlinks in the articles that were linked to the original article. Just click back to the original article. You may access each article by clicking the “next” link at the bottom of the webpage or by clicking on each article’s title in the table of contents on the left side of the webpage. These readings reinforce the material covered in Anol Bhattacherjee’s Chapters 12 and 13, assigned in this subunit.

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7.1.1 Qualitative Scientific Research

Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Qualitative Research”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Qualitative Research” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Qualitative Research,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 11 minutes long, for an introduction to qualitative research.

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7.1.2 Types of Qualitative Research

Lecture: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Qualitative Methods”
Link: iTunes U: East Tennessee State University: Dr. Blake Snider’s Research Methods: “Qualitative Methods” (iTunes U)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture titled “Qualitative Methods,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 13 minutes long, for a description of various qualitative methods.

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7.2 Participant Observation

Reading: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Qualitative Methods”
Link: William M.K. Trochim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: “Qualitative Methods” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article. Also, click on each of the hyperlinks in the assigned article and read those as well. You can then click your back button to get back to the original article. You do not need to click on the hyperlinks in the articles that were linked to the original article. Just click back to the original article. This reading reinforces the material covered in Anol Bhattacherjee’s Chapters 12 and 13. The material covered in this article is applicable to 7.3.

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Reading: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs: Anyarat Chattharakul’s “Thai Electoral Campaigning: Vote-Canvassing Networks and Hybrid Voting”
Link: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs: Anyarat Chattharakul’s “Thai Electoral Campaigning: Vote-Canvassing Networks and Hybrid Voting” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article. This article is an actual example of research using a participant observation method.

Terms of Use: This article is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 License. It is attributed to Min Xia and the original version can be found here.
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7.3 In-Depth Interviews

Reading: University of Florida: Dr. William Marsiglio’s “Conducting Qualitative In-Depth Interviews”
Link: University of Florida: Dr. William Marsiglio’s “Conducting Qualitative In-Depth Interviews” (HTML)

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll down to the section on the page labeled “Option B: Interview-based Project: worth 370 total points (proposal=50, paper=320).” Below this section, you will find a link titled “conducting.qual.interviews.PDF.” Click on that link and then read this article. This article describes in detail the basic process of conducting an in-depth interview.

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Reading: Music and Arts in Action: Bob Edwards’ “White Power Music and the Mobilization of Racist Social Movements”
Link: Music and Arts in Action: Bob Edwards’ “White Power Music and the Mobilization of Racist Social Movements” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article, which provides an actual example of research using in-depth interviews. Please note that this report covers a sensitive topic, but was chosen based on the research conducted. Social movement theory and research is quite pervasive in political science. This research provides a good example of such research while also highlighting the ways in-depth interview methods are used.

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7.4 Focus Groups

Reading: Iowa State University: Nancy Grude-Schuck, Beverlyn Lundy Allen, and Kathlene Larson’s “Focus Group Fundamentals”
Link: Iowa State University: Nancy Grude-Schuck, Beverlyn Lundy Allen, and Kathlene Larson’s “Focus Group Fundamentals” (HTML)

Instructions: Please scroll down and click on the link under “Focus Group Fundamentals” under the heading “Selected Publications.” This article describes in detail the basic process of executing a focus group.

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Reading: Sustainability: Shane Fudge and Michael Peters’ “Behaviour Change in the UK Climate Debate: An Assessment of Responsibility, Agency and Political Dimensions”
Link: Sustainability: Shane Fudge and Michael Peters’ “Behaviour Change in the UK Climate Debate: An Assessment of Responsibility, Agency and Political Dimensions” (PDF)

Instructions: Click on the link above and then click on “Download PDF Full Text” in the middle of the webpage to access the PDF. Please read this article. This article is an actual example of research using a focus group method.

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7.5 Further Study Suggestions

Optional Reading: Explorable: Martyn Shuttleworth’s “Qualitative Research Design”
Link: Explorable: Martyn Shuttleworth’s “Qualitative Research Design” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. Please read this article detailing the unique characteristics and qualities of qualitative research design.

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Optional Reading: Nova Southeastern University’s The Qualitative Report: “Qualitative Research Resources”
Link: Nova Southeastern University’s The Qualitative Report: “Qualitative Research Resources” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional resource. Read this webpage, which offerslinks to sites that provide resources to qualitative researchers.

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Unit 8: Ethics in Social Science Research

We primarily study people in social science research. As a result, ethical issues may come up. The central issue that arises is the risk of harm to human participants in such studies. Such harms may be social, psychological, emotional, financial, or legal. Social harms may include having something about a participant that could embarrass the participant. Psychological or emotional harms may result from being deceived in the study. A participants’ employment security may be jeopardized because of participation in a research study. Finally, legal harms may result from the exposure of participants’ involvement in illegal actions. With that said, most research projects in the social sciences are what we would classify as being minimal risk of harm. That does not mean, however, that we should then not address and consider the risk of potential harms to participants in such studies. This unit will cover how the social sciences have addressed these ethical concerns.

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8.1 Research Ethics

Reading: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 16: Research Ethics”
Link: The Global Text Project: Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social Science Research: Principles, Practices, and Methods: “Chapter 16: Research Ethics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read “Chapter 16: Research Ethics” on pages 133–138, which covers the general ethical concerns that come up in social science research.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0. It is attributed to Anol Bhattacherjee and the original version can be found here.
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Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Ethical Issues”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Ethical Issues” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this tutorial. You must click next at the upper right hand corner of the text to move through each of the 20 short entries. There will be a question at the end of some of these short entries. You may attempt to answer each question, and then compare your response by clicking on “Instructor’s Answer.” This article covers what ethical issues may arise when conducting research.

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Assessment: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Ethical Issues Quiz”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning’s Research Methods Workshops: “Ethical Issues Quiz” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and complete this quiz.

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8.2 A Famous Example of Unethical Research

Reading: YouTube: Yale University: Frank Snowden’s “The Tuskegee Experiment”
Link: YouTube: Yale University: Frank Snowden’s “The Tuskegee Experiment” (YouTube)

Instructions: Watch this video, which supplements discussion of the Tuskegee Experiment.

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8.3 Further Study Suggestions

Optional Reading: The National Academies Press: “On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research”
Link: The National Academies Press: “On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. This article details the importance of ethical consideration at every stage of the research process from developing research questions to gathering data.

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Optional Reading: Department of Health and Human Services: “Office for Human Research Protections of the U.S.”
Link: Department of Health and Human Services: “Office for Human Research Protections of the U.S.” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. The site highlights the federal government’s role in protecting human subject in the research process.

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Optional Reading: Department of Health and Human Services: “Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects”
Link: Department of Health and Human Services: “Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects” (HTML)

Instructions: This is an optional article. The page offers the federal government’s policy for protecting human subjects.

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Final Exam

Final Exam: The Saylor Foundation’s “POLSC251 Final Exam”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “POLSC251 Final Exam”

Instructions: You must be logged into your Saylor Foundation School account in order to access this exam. If you do not yet have an account, you will be able to create one, free of charge, after clicking the link.
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