Empirical Research and Writing: A Political Science Student’s Practical Guide

This book offers clear, detailed, and often entertaining instructions for formulating hypothesis, doing pre-research, selecting appropriate research designs, selecting cases, collecting and managing both qualitative and quantitative data, preparing data for analysis, writing up research findings, practicing peer review, and delivering findings in posters and presentations, and preparing work for publication. Each chapter contains interesting and useful examples (both hypothetical and real), exercises to help students apply what they've learned, and pedagogical features to inspire, instructor, and aid further research, including "Peer Pointers" (quotes from former students that illustrate "aha!" moments), "Talking Tips" (fundamental and surprising tip for research), and appendix materials that include formatting guidelines and a list of major data sources for political science. Making the book as turnkey as possible are downloadable student and instructor resources, including lesson plans and activities for instructors, solutions manual to in-text exercises, links to common citation guides, data sources, journals that publish student papers, and conferences where students can share papers and posters.

Table of Contents:
Part I: The Preliminaries Chapter 1: From Research Topic to Research Question Doing Social Science Research Questions and This Course’s Research Project From Research Topic to Research Question Finding and Refining a Research Question Writing Your Paper Summary Key Terms Chapter 2: From Research Question to Theory to Hypothesis What Is a Theory? From Question to Theory From Theory to Hypothesis Writing Your Theory Section Summary Key Terms Part II: The Practicalities Chapter 3: Doing Pre-Research The Parts of an Empirical Paper How to Think About Literature(s) How to Find Literature(s) How to Organize Literature(s) How to Write the Literature Review Summary Key Terms Chapter 4: Choosing a Design that Fits Your Question Types of Hypotheses What Type of Analysis Should I Conduct? Overview of Techniques Summary Key Terms Chapter 5: Case Selection and Study Design for Qualitative Research Qualitative Study Design Hypothesis-Testing Techniques and Case Selection Writing Your Methodology Section Summary Key Terms Chapter 6: Qualitative Data Collection and Management Information, Data, and Evidence Measurement Maximizing Leverage Over Your Hypotheses Data Collection Techniques Sources and Resources Data Management Options Writing About Data Collection Summary Key Terms Chapter 7: Quantitative Data Collection and Management Identifying Data Needs: What Cases? Identifying Data Needs: What Variables? Measurement: Matching Concepts to Indicators Getting Ready-to-Use Data Collecting and Managing Your Own Data Summary Key Terms Chapter 8: Preparing Quantitative Data for Analysis Transferring Data into Your Stats Program Dealing With Missing Data Preparing to Analyze Your Data Other Data Manipulations The Theory-Data Danger Zone: Endogeneity, Simultaneity, and Omitted Variable Bias Summary Key Terms Chapter 9: Writing up Your Research The Abstract The Bookends The Results: Conventions of Reporting and Discussing Quantitative Analysis Discussing Qualitative Evidence and Claims Summary Key Terms Part III: Post-paper Processes Chapter 10: Practicing Peer Review Writing Without Whining Self-Editing Practicing Peer Review Writing Your Review of Peer Research Summary Key Terms Chapter 11: Posters, Presentations, and Publishing Presentations Posters Slip ‘n’ Slide Post-paper Possibilities Brief Remarks on Graduate Study in Political Science and International Relations Summary

About the Author :
Leanne C. Powner holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan, where she specialized in international relations, comparative politics, and research methods. She has taught at a diverse range of institutions, including the College of Wooster, OH, where she was the Juliana Wilson Thompson Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science, and American University′s School of International Service and the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, where she specialized in teaching research methods.  Her prior publications include the third (with D. Scott Bennett) and fourth editions of Applying the Strategic Perspective: Problems and Models (CQ Press, 2006 & 2010), along with a number of articles and papers on pedagogy, teaching practices, classroom techniques, and assessment appearing in PS: Political Science and Politics, International Studies Perspectives, and the Journal of Political Science Education. Powner was Webmaster for the Active Learning in International Affairs Section of the International Studies Association for seven years.