Interpretation and Method

This book demonstrates the relevance, rigor, and creativity of interpretive research methodologies for political science and its various sub-fields. Designed for use in a course on interpretive research methods, or as a second text in a course in which the instructor seeks a balance between positivist and interpretive approaches, the book situates methods questions within the context of broader methodological questions - specifically, the character of social realities and their "know-ability." Exceptionally clear and well-written chapters provide engaging discussions of the methods of accessing, generating, and analyzing social science data, using methods ranging from reflexive historical analysis to critical ethnography. Reflecting on their own research experiences, the expert contributors offer an inside, applied perspective on how topics, evidence, and methods intertwine to produce knowledge in the social sciences.