Synoptic Essay Question: “Critically evaluate at least two different data collection methods; include their uses and the benefits, disadvantages and difficulties in utilising them. In your answer you should refer to examples from Politics and/or International Relations research.”
(NB. Examples of data collection methods include structured interviews/surveys; focus groups; semi-structured or in-depth interviews; observation; participant observation; etc)
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– Qualities looked for: clarity of argument, breadth of reading & use of academic sources, awareness of context of the topic & appropriate referencing.
I will be attaching some powerpoint files and PDFs please include most of the information from the powerpoints and make the reading from the PDF’s too.
And also include examples from below.
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********PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING SOURCES ONNLY******
and please make sure all the references included in the bibliography all really there in the essay!
– Flyvbjerg, Bent (2006) ‘Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research’, Qualitative Inquiry 12(2): 219-245.
– Seawright, Jason and John Gerring (2008) ‘Case Selection Techniques in Case Study Research: A Menu of Qualitative and Quantitative Options’, Political Research Quarterly 61(2): 294-308.
– Silverman, D (2001), Interpreting Qualitative Data, (2nd ed), L: Sage (Ch.2*)
-Henn, M., Weinstein M. and Foard, N. (2009) A Critical Introduction to Social Research (2nd edition), L: Sage, Chs. 6, 8. Halperin, Sandra and Oliver Heath (2012) Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 14 and 15.
– Bryman, A (2004), Social Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press, part 3.
-Kvale, S. (1996), InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing, L: Sage,
esp. ch.1*
-Arksey, H. and Knight, P. (1999), Interviewing for Social Scientists, L: Sage (ch.7*)
-Johnson, Janet Buttolph, Henry Reynolds, and Jason Mycoff (2007) ‘Statistics: First Steps’. In Political Science Research Methods, 6th edition (Washington, DC: CQ Press). Chapter 11.
-Morgan, D. (1997), Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, L: Sage.
-Krueger, R. and Casey, M. (2000), Focus Groups, L: Sage.
-Goertz, Gary and James Mahoney (2013) ‘Methodological Rorschach Tests: Contrasting. Interpretations in Qualitative and Quantitative Research’, Comparative Political Studies 46(2): 236-251.
-Adcock, Robert and David Collier (2001) ‘Measurement Validity: A Shared Standard for Qualitative and Quantitative Research’, The American Political Science Review 95(3): 529- 546. Bulmer, Martin, Julie Gibbs, and Laura Hyman (2010) ‘Introduction’. In Social Measurement Through Social Surveys: an Applied Approach. Ashgate, Chapter 1
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Examples of good practice in quantitative research:
Beck, Colin J. (2011) ‘The World-Cultural Origins of Revolutionary Waves: Five Centuries of European Contention’, Social Science History 35(2):167-207.
Beck, Colin J., and Emily Miner (2013), ‘Who Gets Designated a Terrorist and Why?’, Social Forces 91(3): 837-872.
Bush, Evelyn (2007) ‘Measuring Religion in Global Civil Society’, Social Forces 85(4): 1645-65. Inglehart, Ronald and Christian Welzel (2003) ‘Political Culture and Democracy: Analyzing Cross-Level Linkages’, Comparative Politics 36(1): 61-79.King, Gary and Langche Zeng
(2001) ‘Improving Forecasts of State Failure’, World Politics 53(4): 623-658. 8
Munck, Gerardo L. and Jay Verkuilen (2002) ‘Conceptualizing and Measuring Democracy: Evaluating Alternative Indices’, Comparative Political Studies 35(1): 5-34.
Schwartz, Daniel M., Tom Deligiannis, and Thomas F. Homer-Dixon (2006) ‘Commentary: debating environment, population and conflict’, Environmental change & security project report, issue 6, Available at: http://www.homerdixon.com/wp- content/uploads/2000/06/Response-to-Gleditsch.pdf
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Examples of good practice in qualitative research:
Bourgois, Philippe. 2003. In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio: Cambridge.
Geertz, Clifford. (1973). “Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” in The Interpretation of Cultures, Basic Books.
Jarvis, L. and Lister, M., 2013. Disconnected Citizenship? The Impacts of Anti-terrorism Policy on Citizenship in the UK. Political studies, 61(3), pp.656-675.
Nordstrom, C., 2004. Shadows of war: Violence, power, and international profiteering in the twenty-first century (Vol. 10). Univ of California Press.
Scott, James C. 1986. Weapons of the Weak: Yale University Press.
