post midterm Flashcards
what is the comparative method
a method of comparison between cases to find similarities and differences between cases
types of comparative method
single case study- using one single case to build or test a theory
small n-case study- only a small number of cases fit the phenomenon
large n-case study- unit of analysis allows for a large sample and many variables to be evaluated at the same time.
How to use the comparative method: small n case studies (things to watch out for)
When there are is a specific case or phenomenon that you want to investigate.
- things to watch out for:
- number of variables (don’t want too few cases and too many variables)
- selection bias: cases that prove your theory
- omitted variables; unaccounted variable can lead to a spurious relationship; relationship between x and y is caused by z
How to use comparative method: small n case studies (strategies)
Most similar systems design
most different systems design
how to use comparative method: small n case studies (best used for..)
- theory development/building and deep investigation
Politics of Third Wave Feminism by Evans
small n case study: that federal vs unitary system affects the participation of women in government
How to use comparative method: Large N studies
- quantitative analysis: data analysis, case selection, data collection
- variables are most important
How to use comparative method: large N studies (things to look out for)
- careful of equivalence of meaning and conceptual stretching, does my definition of the variables mean what I want it to mean across borders
how to use comparative method: (time wise)
cross-sectional vs. longitudinal.
Historical events research- cross-sectional with a single case
historical process research- longitudinal with a single case
cross-sectional comparative research- cross-sec. and one single case
comparative historical research- longitudinal with many cases
Why use the comparative method
Use it to test theory
- test theory on new cases
- develop new theories and cases
- it helps guard against false uniqueness- “too narrow of an explanation for a large phenomenon.
false universalism- if it happens in one place it happens everywhere.
What is the Ethnographic approach
how we study people and how data is collected in those studies, more broadly it includes different data collection and data analysis methods.
participant observation
field research; a method of data collection most common in ethnography
why do ethnography
- studying people in there natural habitat is important because there is a difference with what people say and what people do.
- good for exploratory research
informants, field
informants- people being studied
field- the research setting
what are the key concerns for ethnographic research
- case selection (generalizability is not a priority in this case)
- access to research information
- trust, rapport and objectivity
- replicability
Richard Fenno, Home Style- observing members of the US congress in their home districts
example of participant observation, took mental notes, asked a lot of questions, a lot of participating observation
The Politics of Third Wave Feminism
example of ethnographic research: she used semi-structured interview, attendance and feminist gatherings
Focus group
observation of the group dynamic, seeing how people interact with each other
types of questions during an interview
closed vs. open questions
types of interviews
structured- closed questions, same order, survey style (many people)
semi-structured- mix of short and long questions, allowed follow ups/modifications
unstructured- long, complex, no set questions/general topics
When to use the interview method
- is the info you need only available through talking to people
- when doing qualitative analysis
things to consider when choosing the type of interview
- exploratory (qualitative) vs. explanatory (quantitative)
- is topic straightforward or complex
- are costs, time and available facilities an issues
- is reliability or validity of answers threatened
two types of interviews in political science
expert interview
elite interview
3 steps in data analysis
data reduction- reduce it down to common themes
data coding- what are the commonalities and what will you call these commonalities
analysis- what does the data mean, do my conclusions make sense in terms of internal validity