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Doing Research in Political Science
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Doing Research in Political Science
An Introduction to Comparative Methods and Statistics

Second Edition
  • Paul Pennings - Free University, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Hans Keman - Free University, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Jan Kleinnijenhuis - Free University, Amsterdam, Netherlands


November 2005 | 336 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
This is an immensely helpful book for students starting their own research… an excellent introduction to the comparative method giving an authoritative overview over the research process

- Klaus Armingeon, University of Bern

Doing Research in Political Science is the book for mastering the comparative method in all the social sciences

- Jan-Erik Lane, University of Geneva

This book has established itself as a concise and well-readable text on comparative methods and statistics in political science I…strongly recommend it.

- Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Philipps-University Marburg

This thoroughly revised edition of the popular textbook offers an accessible but comprehensive introduction to comparative research methods and statistics for students of political science. Clearly organized around three parts, the text introduces the main theories and methodologies used in the discipline.

Part 1 frames the comparative approach within the methodological framework of the political and social sciences.

Part 2 introduces basic descriptive and inferential statistical methods as well as more advanced multivariate methods used in quantitative political analysis.

Part 3 applies the methods and techniques of Parts 1 & 2 to research questions drawn from contemporary themes and issues in political science.

Incorporating practice exercises, ideas for further reading and summary questions throughout, Doing Research in Political Science provides an invaluable step-by-step guide for students and researchers in political science, comparative politics and empirical political analysis.

Hans Keman
PART ONE: COMPARATIVE METHODOLOGY
 
Comparative Methodology and Statistics in Political Science
 
The Comparative Approach
Theory and Method

 
 
Meaning and Use of the Comparative Method
Research Design

 
Jan Kleinnijenhuis
PART TWO: STATISTICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
 
Concepts, Cases, Data and Measurement
 
Explorative and Descriptive Statistics
 
Multivariate Analysis and Causal Inference
Paul Pennings
PART THREE: DOING POLITICAL RESEARCH
 
How Problems Arise
 
How Decisions Are Made
 
How Problems Are Solved

too advanced

Ms Judith Kelley
Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University
February 25, 2014

A very nice introduction to research design and methods in political science.

Professor Ingo Rohlfing
Political Science, University of Cologne
August 25, 2011

the closely linked discussion of substantive problems in comparative politics and statistical methods is the main reason for assing this text as essential reading

Professor Gilg Seeber
Dept. of Political Science, University of Innsbruck
October 14, 2010

Sample Materials & Chapters

PDF file of Chapter 1

PDF file of Chapter 2


Paul Pennings

Paul Pennings is Associate Professor of Political Science at the VU University Amsterdam. His research and teaching interests are in the fields of Comparative (European) Politics and Comparative Methods and Statistics. He has publised widely in peer-reviewed academic journals in political science, such as Acta Politica, Electoral Studies, European Journal of Political Research, European Union Politics, Party Politics, Political Studies and Sociological Methods and Research. His recent publications include Doing Research in Political Science. An Introduction to Comparative Methods and Statistics (with Hans Keman and Jan Kleinnijenhuis),... More About Author

Hans Keman

As I had set out in my application my activities would be twofold: one, participating in and sharing the burden of the work-in-progress of the research activities of the theme group; secondly, I aimed at developing a fresh approach to 'political institutionalism', by elaborating 'rational choice' as a fundamental part of this, both theoretically and empirically.This has resulted in an edited book (with two chapters by me), another chapter in a book, and two articles published in international journals. In addition I presented my ideas in a lecture at NIAS on 21 March 1996 and shall present a paper in which the rational institutionalist... More About Author

Jan Kleinnijenhuis

Current lines of research    News effects    Economic news and political news, patterns of agenda-building    Content Analysis, Semantic Network Analysis More About Author

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ISBN: 9781412903776
£55.00

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.