This text emphasizes active learning through the use of real data and a hands-on approach to SPSS. By placing
coverage of the philosophy of science and the building blocks of research at the beginning, the structure of the
text follows the actual process students would employ in their own research. Activities and exercises help students
master research concepts and skills.
Learning Objectives help students organize their reading and studying.
Key Points boxes reinforce important ideas.
Questions for Thought and Discussion within the text promote critical thinking.
To the Web boxes reference additional information or exercises on a companion web site to help fully
integrate online materials.
End-of-chapter materials include a Conclusion, Summary of Main Points, Terms Introduced, Selected Readings,
and hands-on activities.
Table of Contents
Note: Each chapter begins with Learning Objectives and ends with a Conclusion, a Summary of the Main Points,
Terms Introduced, Selected Readings, and Activities. I. Science and Behavior
1. How Do We Know What's True?
Asking and Answering Questions About Politics
The Boundaries and Limits of Science
2. Using the Scientific Method and Political Science
We Are All Scientists
Characteristics and Assumptions of the Scientific Approach to Understanding Politics
The Wheel of Science Describes the Stages in the Research Process
II. Preparing for Research
3. Formulating Problems and Hypotheses
How to Develop a Political Research Question
Sources of Research Topics
Criteria for Evaluating Potential Political Research Topics
Ethical Issues in Political Science Research
Transforming Research Topics into Researchable Questions: Narrowing the Focus
Elements in Hypotheses: Concepts, Variables, and Units of Analysis
4. Determining What Is Known: Building a Bibliography
Serious Political Science Research Begins (But Does Not End) with the Library
Developing a Strategy for Finding Sources and Keeping a Record
Finding Resources
Determining Whether Sources Are Relevant
5. Reviewing Previous Research
Reading and Evaluating Empirical Political Research
Reading and Dissecting an Article Reporting Research
"Gender and Citizen Participation: Is There a Different Voice?"
Writing a Review Comparing Research Reports
6. Assessing Relationships: Association or Causality?
Looking for Explanations
Research Design
7. Conceptualizing, Operationalizing, and Measuring Variables
From Abstract Concept to Concrete Measurement
Concepts and Variables
Operationalization and Measurement
From Conceptual to Operational Hypotheses
III. Data Collection
8. Organizing and Managing Data
Mounds of Data
Data Analysis Software
Codebooks
Running a Frequency Distribution to Describe Your Data
9. How to Achieve Maximum Representativeness: Sampling
Choosing Representative Units of Analysis
The Concept and Terminology of Sampling
Types of Samples
Sample Error and Sample Size
10. Collecting Data Using Surveys
Acquiring Survey Data
Developing Questions
Assembling the Survey Instrument
Administering the Survey
Secondary Analysis of Survey Data
11. Collecting and Organizing Data from Published Sources
Previously Collected Data
Published Data
Published Data on Geographic Regions or Organizations
Published Data on People
Media Messages: Content Analysis
12. Studying Only a Few Cases: Intensive Approaches
Extensive and Intensive Approaches
Case Studies
Experimentation
Q-Technique
Focus Groups
IV. Analyzing and Reporting Results
13. How to Describe and Summarize a Single Variable
Why Statistics?
How Many Variables at What Level of Measurement?
Variables Measured at the Nominal and Ordinal Levels
Variables Measured at the Interval and Ratio Levels
14. Constructing and Interpreting Bivariate Tables
Tables Tell Us a Lot
Characteristics and Construction of Bivariate Tables
Alternative Means for Organizing Percentage Tables
15. Graphing and Describing Linear Bivariate Relationships
Relationships Between Two Interval/Ratio Variables
Interpreting a Scatterplot by Using a Regression Line
16. Analyzing More Than Two Variables
Sorting Out Multiple Influences
Nominal- and Ordinal-Level Data
Interval- and Ratio-Level Data
17. Determining the Statistical Significance of Results
Sample Versus Population Relationships
The Framework of Statistical Significance
Tests of Statistical Significance
18. Reporting the Results of Empirical Political Research: Pulling It All Together
The Work Is Not Finished Until You Communicate Your Results
Forms of Reporting Empirical Political Research
Organization and Presentation of the Elements of a Research Report
Writing: Style and Form
Presenting Quantitative Results
Ethical Considerations in Reporting Research
Appendix 1
Avoiding Plagiarism
Appendix 2
Table A: Random Numbers
Table B: Critical Values of Chi Square
Table C: Critical Values of t
Table D: Critical Values of F
