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
