Difficult Concepts

Question 1

Factors in Sampling Strategies

Answer 1

1. Choosing and Ranking Criteria
2. Sample Size
3. Recruitement

Question 2

Choosing and Ranking Crtiteria

Answer 2

1. Symbolic Represenation - who are relevant
2. Sample Diversity
3. Prioritising Criteria - Nestedness, Correlation

Question 3

Extreme Case Study Design

Answer 3

The extreme case method selects a case because of its extreme value on the independent (X) or dependent (Y) variable of interest” SG2008, 301
* Objective for case selection = rareness of the value on X or Y (NOT representativeness)
- Aim= maximizing variance (between case and population)
* Used for exploratory research aims (mainly generating hypotheses)
* Identification of extreme cases - Large-N: look at the standard deviations from the sample mean

Question 4

Influential Case Study Design

Answer 4

Influential case study
= These studies look at “cases that do influence overall findings [of a model and] fit in the sample” SG2008, p. 303
* Objective for case selection = checking theoretical assumptions
- If these cases would be excluded from an analysis, the conclusions of the analysis would change
* Used to address concerns that the results of a study are driven by one or a few influential cases
* Identification of influential cases - Large-N: techniques to identify cases with high leverage

Question 5

5 Steps Deductive Coding Frames and Category Formation

Answer 5

Deductive coding frames and category formation
1. Determining the fundamental structuring dimensions of the coding frame (theory-based)
- tree diagrams are helpful
2. Specification of subcategories
- Definition
- Prototypes (Anchor samples)
- Demarcation (coding rules)
3. Test coding to assess applicability of definition, anchors, and coding rules
4. Coding of material (with potential inductive revisions of the coding frame)
5. Analysis of material (in line with theories on the topic)

Question 6

6 Steps Inductive Coding Frames and Category Formation

Answer 6

1. Definition of the level or theme of categories (deductive element)
2. Establishment of the abstraction level (conceptualization)
3. First round of coding to determine inductive categories fitted to the theme under study
4. Revision of the category system (e.g. tree diagrams are helpful)
5. Final coding of material
6. Analysis of material (in line with theories on the topic)

Question 7

Trustworthiness in Political Science - Authenticity

Answer 7

–> Accurate reading or genuine interpretion of reality
– Internal validity
– Credibility

Question 8

Trustworthiness in Political Science - Authenticity

Answer 8

–> Accurate reading or genuine interpretion of reality
– Internal validity
– Credibility

Question 9

Trustworthiness in Political Science - Impartiality

Answer 9

–> Concerns regarding researcher biases
– objectivity
–confirmability

Question 10

Causal Effect

Answer 10

• if one observes a theoretically intelligible and systematic cause-effect relation
• do not have to be probabilistic, can also be deterministic
  which type of causation undergirds a causal effect is a matter of theory

Question 11

Causation

Answer 11

a type of covariation where one phenomenon contributes to or produces another

Question 12

Systematic Rule-Bound Procedure

Answer 12

• rules of txt analysis have to be laid out in advance
• procedural model defines individual steps of analysis
• definition of content-analytical units

Question 13

Strategies Case Selection

Question 14

Theory Based Case Selection Strategy

Answer 14

• set-relational causes
• cross-case vs within case level
• theoretical prominence case

Question 15

Strategy Distribution Based Case Selection

Answer 15

• frequentist causal inference
• cross-case vs within case