Research Design Flashcards
What is research design? (Aim, Controversy, Positivist)
Aim: Expand boundaries of existing knowledge.
Controversy: Interpretive knowledge.
Positivist: Broad research of causal things.
Objective: Why do we conduct research?
Obtain valid answers reliably and efficiently.
Between epistemological and methodological approaches.
Applied (operational) epistemology – understanding how we know.
Levels of Generality, Level 1
Ontological, epistemological, broad theoretical outlook.
Explicit, not implicit.
Types: Ask about them.
Levels of Generality, Level 2
Research goal, question, theory relation, conceptualization, methodology.
Identifying characteristics of theoretical outlook.
Levels of Generality, Level 3
Cases, variables, evidence.
How do we identify a gap in our knowledge?
Recognizing absence in existing knowledge.
What is the general aim of research?
Advance the ‘state of the art.’
Motivation: Puzzles, lacunae, substantive problems.
When does theory come into play?
Guides operationalization, conceptualization.
Essential for behavioralist, large statistical methodology.
Is research methodology solely dependent on research questions?
Example: Investigating Trumpism may involve elite interviews, discourse analysis.
Experimental vs. Observational Designs: Why can’t social sciences often mimic laboratory experiments?
Complexity, ethical reasons.
Observational designs in political science.
What does the researcher control in observational methods?
Cases to study, number of cases, features to observe, data to collect.
Qualitative methods when quantitative is not available.
What is the first step in theory development?
Abstract, unobservable concepts.
Contestation, inductive element.
Operationalization follows conceptualization.
How does the choice of N impact research design?
Large-N: Positivist designs, causality.
Small-N: Interpretivist designs, understanding phenomena.
When is the comparative method preferred?
Focus on small-N case studies.
Alternative when experimental or statistical methods are not feasible.
How does MDSD work?
Find somewhat similar cases with different outcomes.
Identify common conditions, nuance understanding.
When is MSSD used?
Investigate positive and negative cases.
Identify differing conditions for outcomes.
What are general limitations of MDSD & MSSD?
Sensitive to case selection/variable specification.
Limited cases, potential bias in theory testing.
When are single case studies appropriate?
for what is it for?
If MDSD/MSSD not possible.
Comparative analysis important for understanding and explanation.
(Scientific) Description Analytical Dimensions:
Theoretical influence on concepts.
Constructed nature of research concepts.
(Scientific) Description Implications:
For empirical and normative theory.
(Scientific) Description Representation:
Comprehensive representation of one/few cases (many variables) OR
Classification of many cases (one/few variables).
(Scientific) Description Description and Classification:
Description aligns with classification.
Value: Selecting analytical dimensions for empirical projection.
(Scientific) Description Classifications in Social/Political World:
Relative and more or less accurate.
First step to theory; somewhat unnatural.
Classifications cannot be neutral.
(Causal) Explanation Associated with Foundationalist Ontologies:
Behavioralist, rational choice, Marxist, institutionalist approaches.
(Causal) Explanation Probabilistic Nature:
Not deterministic but probabilistic.
Example: Sibling A going to uni doesn’t determine voting choices for Sibling B.
(Causal) Explanation Causal Mechanism:
Understanding the process.
Strength of causal effect.
(Causal) Explanation Retrospective vs. Prospective:
Analyzing what was vs. predicting what would be.
Interpretation Seeking Understanding:
Associated with anti-foundationalist ontologies.
Embraced by constructivist and some feminist theoretical approaches.
Interpretavist thought of Scientific Causation:
Interpretivists reject a ‘scientific concept of causation’ (Bevir and Rhodes 2016).
Emphasis on critical standpoint.
Interpretation Political Actions:
Result from subjective reasons, meanings, and beliefs.
Focus on understanding rather than explanation (Weber).
Interpretation of Constitutive Arguments
imply what to come about?
Emphasis on constitutive rather than causal arguments (Wendt).
Implying that something is to come about.
Theory Development:
Involves theory generation, testing, etc.
Plays a role in operationalization and conceptualization.
Behavioralist Approach:
Guides operationalizing and conceptualizing.
Utilizes large statistical methodology.
