CHAPTER ONE:
Intro ductio n and Backgro und to Research Met ho ds
Prepared by: Dr. Nur A jrun K halid
Date: 17 t h O ct ober 2024
Chapter Objectives
◦ 1.1 Describe how political scientists use empirical research methods to investigate important
questions about politics and government.
◦ 1.2 Understand why researchers use a variety of data collection methods in their empirical
study of political phenomena.
◦ 1.3 Understand why some research findings are summarized quantitatively using statistics
while others are summarized qualitatively using categorical assessments.
What is Research?
Political scientists are interested in learning about and understanding a
variety of important political phenomena .
◦ Some of us are interested in the political differences among countries and wonder why women make up a
larger percentage of legislators in some countries than in others, or we may wonder what conditions lead
to stable and secure political regimes without civil unrest, rebellion, or government repression.
◦ Another area of interest is the relationships and interactions between nations and how some nations
exercise power over others.
◦ Other political scientists are more interested in the relationship between the population and public
officials in democratic countries and, in particular, whether or not public opinion influences the policy
decisions of public officials
Political scientists are interested in learning about and understanding a variety
of important political phenomena.
◦ Still others are concerned with how particular political institutions function.
◦ Does Congress serve the interests of well-financed groups rather than of the general populace? Do judicial
decisions depend upon the personal values of individual judges, the group dynamics of judicial groups, or the
relative power of the litigants?
◦ To what extent can American presidents influence the actions of federal agencies? Does the use of nonprofit
service organizations to deliver public services change government control of and accountability for those
services?
◦ These are just a very few examples of the types of questions political scientists investigate through their
research
Empirical research.
Research based on actual, “objective” observation
of phenomena.
Empirical Research ?
◦ Methodology that requires scholars to clearly state hypotheses or
propositions that can be evaluated with actual, “objective” observation of
political phenomena. Students should learn about how political scientists
conduct empirical research for three major reasons.
◦ First, citizens in contemporary American society are often called upon to
evaluate statements and arguments about political phenomena and the
validity of information used to support those statements and arguments.
◦ Debates about the wisdom of the death penalty, for example, frequently (but
not always) center on whether or not it is an effective preventive to crime,
and debates about term limits for elected officials involve whether or not
such limits increase the competitiveness of elections and the responsiveness
of elected officials to the electorate (voters).
◦ How do we know if these claims are true? What does the research on these
topics tell us?
Empirical Research ?
◦ A second reason is that an understanding of empirical
research concepts is integrally related to students’
assimilation and evaluation of knowledge in their
coursework. An important result of understanding the
scientific research process is that a student may begin to
think more independently about concepts and theories
presented in courses and readings.
◦ For example, a student might say, “That may be true
under the given conditions, but I believe it won’t remain
true under the following conditions.” Or, “If this theory is
correct, I would expect to observe the following.” Or,
“Before I will accept that interpretation, I’d like to have
this additional information.”
◦ Students who can specify what information is needed and
what relationships among phenomena must be observed
in support of an idea are more likely to develop a deeper
understanding of the subjects they study.
Empirical Research ?
◦ A third, and related, reason for learning about
political science research methods is that students
often need to conduct research of their own,
whether for a term paper in an introductory course
on American government, a research project in an
upper-level seminar, a senior thesis, or a series of
assignments in a course devoted to learning
empirical research methods.
◦ Familiarity with empirical research methods is
generally a prerequisite to making this a profitable
endeavor.
◦ Conceptual Research:
◦ Definition: Conceptual research is primarily focused on developing or exploring
ideas, theories, and concepts. It does not involve the collection or analysis of
empirical data (e.g., observations, experiments, surveys).
◦ Purpose: The goal is to contribute to the understanding of a concept by clarifying
its meaning, proposing new frameworks, or enhancing theoretical understanding.
◦ Examples:
◦ Exploring the concept of "public accountability" or "good governance" in theoretical terms.
◦ Discussing the theoretical foundations of leadership styles in public administration.
◦ Approach: It relies on existing literature, logical reasoning, and theoretical analysis
to explain concepts and relationships.
◦ Output: New models, frameworks, or refined theories
Question to Ponder
Conclusion
◦ Research methods are essential for public administrators because they provide the tools and techniques needed to
systematically investigate, analyze, and solve public sector problems. Here's why they are important:
◦ 1. **Informed Decision-Making**: Research methods help public administrators collect and analyze data, allowing them to
make decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions or intuition. This leads to more effective and efficient policy
choices.
◦ 2. **Policy Evaluation**: Administrators can assess the effectiveness of public policies and programs through research,
identifying what works and what doesn’t. This is crucial for policy reform and continuous improvement.
◦ 3. **Problem-Solving**: By applying scientific methods, public administrators can identify root causes of public issues and
develop strategies to address them. This enhances their capacity for problem-solving.
◦ 4. **Accountability and Transparency**: Research fosters accountability by enabling public administrators to provide
evidence for their actions and policies, increasing transparency and trust in government.
◦ 5. **Innovation and Adaptation**: Through research, administrators can explore new approaches, learn from best
practices, and adapt to changing environments, ensuring that public services remain relevant and effective.
◦ In summary, research methods equip public administrators with the analytical tools necessary to navigate complex
challenges, improve governance, and ensure better service delivery to the public.
Conclusion
◦ The prospect of learning empirical research methods is often intimidating to students. Sometimes,
students dislike this type of inquiry because it involves numbers and statistics. To understand empirical
research well, one must have a basic knowledge of statistics and how to use statistics in analyzing data
and reporting research findings.
◦ But not all empirical research involves the collection of numerical data requiring statistical analysis. It may
involve listening to and interpreting what people say or reading and classifying documents such as treaties
or constitutions.
◦ The empirical research process we describe here is first and foremost a way of thinking and a prescription
for disciplined reasoning. Statistics will be introduced only after an understanding of the thought process
involved in empirical research is established, and then in a way that should be understandable to any
student familiar with basic algebra.
◦ On a final note, understanding the research process involves an appreciation of the ethical obligations of
conducting research, including transparency and integrity in the collection and reporting of data, and
avoiding harm to humans in the course of research from choice of research topic to publication of findings.
◦ We will be discussing the ethical dimensions of conducting research at appropriate points throughout the
chapters.