Political Inquiry Terms and Definitions

Research Design * Good research, bad research * Involves connecting theory and data. * Maximising leverage by using very few variables to explain many effects. * Reports on the degree of certainty of results. * Shows true causal relationship, not just correlation. * Provides accurate data and accounts for other variables. * Determines if the relationship is unidirectional. * Purpose of research * To establish a relationship between two or more variables * To demonstrate that the results are generally true in the real world and not in just a particular context. * To reveal whether one phenomenon precedes another in time, establish time order * To eliminate as many alternative explanations for the observed finding as possible * Choice of design * What affects * Is research exploratory, descriptive or explanatory * What are the practical limitations in investigating hypothesis. * Experimental design: * Classical experimental design, 2 groups, pre and post test, randomisation, * Simple post test: only post test * Repeated measure design, measure how long effect takes to start. Multiple pre and post tests. * Multigroup design, more than 2 groups, can compare different levels of experimental variable. * Randomised Field experiments, applies logic of randomisation and variable manipulation * Non-randomised quasi-experiments. Purposeful selection, target a certain group. * Non-experimental design: single group, no control over assignment and application of IV, inability to measure DV. * Case study: small N designs. Provide detailed explanation * Comparative analysis: compare two or several units in relative detail * Focus group: gather information about reaction to certain IV. * Surveys: large number of people measured to find causal