Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science

Häftad, Engelska, 1997

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Stephen Van Evera greeted new graduate students at MIT with a commonsense introduction to qualitative methods in the social sciences. His helpful hints, always warmly received, grew from a handful of memos to an underground classic primer. That primer evolved into a book of how-to information about graduate study, which is essential reading for graduate students and undergraduates in political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, and history - and for their advisers.-How should we frame, assess, and apply theories in the social sciences? "I am unpersuaded by the view that the prime rules of scientific method should differ between hard science and social science. Science is science." -A section on case studies shows novices the ropes.-Van Evera contends the realm of dissertations is often defined too narrowly "Making and testing theories are not the only games in town.... If everyone makes and tests theories but no one ever uses them, then what are they for?"-In "Helpful Hints on Writing a Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation," Van Evera focuses on presentation, and on broader issues of academic strategy and tactics.-Van Evera asks how political scientists should work together as a community. "All institutions and professions that face weak accountability need inner ethical rudders that define their obligations in order to stay on course."

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum1997-10-15
Mått130 x 10 x 210 mm
Vikt215 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor144
FörlagCornell University Press
ISBN9780801484575

Tillhör följande kategorier

Sociologi inom Samhälle och politik
Politik och statsskick inom Samhälle och politik

INTRODUCTION1. HYPOTHESES, LAWS, AND THEORIES: A USER'S GUIDEWhat Is a Theory?What Is a Specific Explanation?What Is a Good Theory?How Can Theories Be Made?How Can Theories Be Tested?Strong vs. Weak Tests: Predictions and TestsHelpful Hints for Testing TheoriesHow Can Specific Events Be Explained?Methodology Myths2. WHAT ARE CASE STUDIES? HOW SHOULD THEY BE PERFORMED?Case Studies in PerspectiveTesting Theories with Case StudiesCreating Theories with Case StudiesInferring Antecedent Conditions from Case StudiesTesting Antecedent Conditions with Case StudiesExplaining CasesStrong vs. Weak Tests: Predictions and TestsInterpreting Contradictory ResultsCase-Selection Criteria3. WHAT IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE DISSERTATION?4. HELPFUL HINTS ON WRITING A POLITICAL SCIENCE DISSERTATIONTopic SelectionOrganizationYour Dissertation ProspectusYour Introductory ChapterYour Concluding ChapterStudy Design and PresentationWritingStyleVettingYour AbstractDealing with your Dissertation CommitteeDealing with Your Head, Your Family, and Your FriendsHow to Learn More about How to Write a Dissertation5. THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL6. PROFESSIONAL ETHICSAPPENDIX: HOW TO WRITE A PAPERFURTHER READINGINDEX

"Stephen Van Evera's Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science makes an important contribution toward improving the use of case studies for theory development and testing in the social sciences. His trenchant and concise views on issues ranging from epistemology to specific research techniques manage to convey not only the methods but the ethos of research. This book is essential reading for social science students at all levels who aspire to conduct rigorous research."—Alexander L. George, Stanford University, and Andrew Bennett, Georgetown University