The Scientific Study of Research Questions

Chapter 1:Essentials of Political Research:

Alan Monroe

What does it mean to be scientific? (2)

It is defined by the attempt to identify and test empiricalgeneralizations. The key is empirical: it refers to facts, or

thereal world: that which exists and can be know through thesenses – what can be seen, touched, heard, smelled.

How do you test empirical statements? The test must be objective (free from bias, and can be duplicated)

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Generalizations (3)

Generalizations: What we are looking forWe want to make statements about entire classes of

objects, rather than just about individual cases.

Individual Level Analysis: Often InsufficientHow specific people may behave, whether they vote, and

whether or not they are educated is of little value. But if we gather data on a large number of people from many places, and across time, we can make generalizations about how“individuals” with certain social characteristics behave politically. (3)

The objective is to explain and predict.…

Empirical and Normative Questions

Empirical and Normative QuestionsMany things we think about the world are normative,

rather than empirical, that is, they reflect our judgments about what should be.

Scientific method cannot deal directly with normative (non-empirical) questions.

Hence, we need to be able to distinguish between the two:

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Empirical and Normative Questions

Empirical statements: “refers to what is or is not true and can be confirmed or disproved by sense experience.” It can be tested.

Examples: Bill Clinton was reelected president in 1996Howard Dean is the Chair of the Democratic Party

Objective analysis of data from sensory observation can either prove or disprove an empirical statement. It can be tested.

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Empirical and Normative Questions

Normative Statements: they deal with value judgments, that is, questions of what is good or bad.

Examples:Was Bliss Clinton a good President? Is democracy the best form of government? Should taxes be increased?

Such questions cannot be answered objectively.

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Normative to Empirical Questions (6)

Why cannot you answer normative questions in political science?

You can deal with normative questions/issues in scientific research, but can only do so indirectly. What you need to do is reformulate normative questions as empirical questions.

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Reformulating Normative Questions as Empirical

There are two ways of doing this: 1) Change the Frame of Reference: Move from a normative judgment to a question about the normative judgments people make. (easier, but less useful)

Example: Would it be a good idea to legalize drugs? (normative)Do most college students favor the legalization of drugs? (Frame)

Limits on campaign spending in Congressional racesshould be adopted. (normative)More Republicans favor spending limits than Democrats. (frame)

Reformulating Normative Questions as Empirical (6)

Reformulate Normative Questions as Empirical:2) Ask empirical questions about the assumptions behind normative judgment. (more useful)

Example: Would it be a good idea to legalize drugs?

(normative)Would the legalization of drugs decrease the occurrence of other crimes? (assumption)

Limits on campaign spending in Congressional races should be adopted. (normative)

Do spending limits advantage or disadvantage incumbents? (assumption)

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Research Questions (8)

Designing a Research Question: Research should begin with a coherent question. It helps

focus your thinking, research and writing.

Elements of a Good Question:ClarityTestabilityTheoretical significancePractical significanceOriginality

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Research Questions: (8)

Clarity: needs to give clear direction to the research, that is, it should direct the type of research and data that will be used. But do not be too focused. To reduce study to a particular city, or state, if you are discussing urban development, or economic policy might limit value of research. Hence the value in comparative studies.

Examples:Why is voter turnout low in the US? (lacks direction: does not tell us where we should look, at…)

Does same day registration increase turnout? (direct us to certain research)

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Research Questions: (9)

Testability: have to be able to answer the question with empirical inquiry.

Theoretical Significance: answering the question should increase our general knowledge and understanding of the topic.

Hence, it is important to know what has already been written on the topic. Do a Literature Review.

Practical Significance: answering the question should have be useful to some real-life application.

Originality: does not have to be completely new question, but should at least be a new take on something.

The Scientific Research Process: (10)

Steps in the research process:

1) Formulate Question2) Formulate hypotheses3) Formulate Design4) Research (Collect Data)5) Analysis6) Draw Conclusion

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