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Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills
The most accessible and practical guide to research methods written especially for politics and international relations students.
Selling Points
- Discusses step-by-step how to conduct research to support students through the entire research process
- Broad coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods makes it relevant to any research project
- Discussion of key debates of theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science to broaden students' knowledge of research methods
- Includes a range of learning features such as chapter summaries and test questions to re-enforce students' understanding of research methods
- Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support
New to this Edition
- New content on mixed methods in Chapter 6 to highlight the advantages of using different methods or approaches as part of the same study.
- Additional coverage of recent debates and concerns about transparency in research and ‘open science’, digital data, and analysing social media content.
- Updated examples throughout to cover topical issues in political research, such as the rise of far-right movements ad parties, issues relating to immigration and refugees, and the intergenerational transmission of political preferences
- Now available as an enhanced ebook, featuring video reflections from recent graduates who share their experience of conducting independent research, self-test questions, and flashcard glossaries
Digital
Political Research Methods is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and it is supported by online resources.
The following additional resources are available to
- Other Students Say videos, where graduate students in Politics and International Relations share their experience conducting research
- Self-test questions at the end of each chapter section allow students to check and consolidate their knowledge
- Flashcard glossaries improve understanding of content
- Example datasets to prompt active engagement and hands-on experience
Adopting lecturers will have access to the following teaching support
- Seminar questions and activities
- Tutorials for data analysis software
- Test bank of questions
- PowerPoint slides
Selling Points
- Discusses step-by-step how to conduct research to support students through the entire research process
- Broad coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods makes it relevant to any research project
- Discussion of key debates of theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science to broaden students' knowledge of research methods
- Includes a range of learning features such as chapter summaries and test questions to re-enforce students' understanding of research methods
- Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support
New to this Edition
- New content on mixed methods in Chapter 6 to highlight the advantages of using different methods or approaches as part of the same study.
- Additional coverage of recent debates and concerns about transparency in research and ‘open science’, digital data, and analysing social media content.
- Updated examples throughout to cover topical issues in political research, such as the rise of far-right movements ad parties, issues relating to immigration and refugees, and the intergenerational transmission of political preferences
- Now available as an enhanced ebook, featuring video reflections from recent graduates who share their experience of conducting independent research, self-test questions, and flashcard glossaries
Digital
Political Research Methods is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and it is supported by online resources.
The following additional resources are available to
- Other Students Say videos, where graduate students in Politics and International Relations share their experience conducting research
- Self-test questions at the end of each chapter section allow students to check and consolidate their knowledge
- Flashcard glossaries improve understanding of content
- Example datasets to prompt active engagement and hands-on experience
Adopting lecturers will have access to the following teaching support
- Seminar questions and activities
- Tutorials for data analysis software
- Test bank of questions
- PowerPoint slides
608 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 9, 2026
Duidelijk geschreven, leert je politicologisch onderzoek doen in een notendop. Wel van een flink grote noot dan.
February 2, 2023
It does what it is supposed to do. When you are trying to learn about scientific research this book will help you get started. I found the part on textual analysis rather unsatisfactory, but it might help those who are new to this kind of research.
November 26, 2023
This is an excellent text, a very thorough and structured introduction to the principles of qualitative research, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It took away the wishy-washiness that I was afraid qualitative methods would be characterized by, for a technically rigorous guideline to designing a qualitative research study which was not only practically useful but also intellectually satisfying. I believe this will continue to be a go-to reference text which I turn to for a long time to come.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews