Research Methods in Politics 5

1. Research Methods in Politics5 Collecting Data Sets: Case Studies, Experimental, Comparative, Longitudinal and Action Research Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

2. Teaching and Learning Objectives • to consider the distinctive characteristics of case studies, experimental, comparative, longitudinal and action research methods • to identify their strengths and weaknesses • to learn where each is best used Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

3. Case Studies, Experimental, Comparative, Longitudinal and Action Research • case study: a sample of one • experimental: a control and experimental sample: rarely used in Politics research • comparative method: widely used in Comparative Politics, International Politics and Development Politics: involves making comparisons between cases sharing similar characteristics, outcomes or situations • longitudinal research: observes changes in cohort over time • action research: obtaining data by direct participation in struggle of study group Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

4. Choice of Type • academic etc requirements • time and other resources available • sub-discipline of Politics • accessibility of data sets • whether mainly quantitative or qualitative data is sought Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

5. Case Study • sample of one • basic building block of empiric research • ideally, should be: • self-contained • typical • weakness: generalisability of findings unknown • solution: adopt ‘thick/thin’ or ‘case study and a half’ approach in which findings of case study are specifically tested against a similar case Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

6. Comparative Method • positivistic • provides rich, contextual descriptions which identify clearly the observed similarities and differences between cases and places • identifies and develops systems of classification and typologies which generate data sets appropriate to the research question • distinguishes independent variables (causes) from other variables; • tests hypotheses and, thus, the validity of explanatory theories • can develop predictive capacity where, for example, there is evidence of stages of development • applies J S Mill’s method of agreement or difference Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

7. Method of Agreement • uses different cases which have same outcome to identify the independent variable, e.g. • CaseVariablesOutcome • 1 a b c y • 2 a c d y • 3 a b d y In this case, only variable a is common to outcomes y. So a is potential independent variable/ cause Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

8. Method of Difference • similar cases are selected which have different outcomes, e.g. • CaseVariablesOutcomes • 1 a b c d y • 2 a b c d y • 3 a b c d y • 4 p b c d z • Here, variables a and p are associated with outcomes y or z. So a and p are potential causes Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

9. Method of Concomitant Variations • used where the magnitude of the potential cause appears associated with the magnitude of the outcome. For example: Case Variables Outcome • 1 a b c d y • 2 2a b c d 2y • 3 3a b c d 3y In this group of cases, the magnitude of aappears to influence the magnitude of y Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

10. Longitudinal Research • panel survey research • tracking research • time series analysis • life histories or narratives • most involve studying cohort of subjects sharing characteristics, e.g. age, place • time-consuming but can use data available from British Election Survey (BES), Eurobarometer, US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSDID) Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

11. Action Research • origins: critical social theory • shares subjects’ lives and indignities • identifies and seeks to overcome institutional barriers, myths and contradictions facing powerless groups • role of researcher to facilitate change • potentially dangerous to researcher and subjects • exit strategy Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

12. Questions for Discussion or Assignments • You are researching the causes of local government corruption in England. Your case study identifies new causes which are not included in the current literature. What steps should you take to establish whether these causes were unique to your case study or more widespread? • Can experimental research be wholly discounted in Politics? How might the impact of various electoral innovations on turnout be evaluated? • You wish to carry out comparative research on the relationship between democratic reform, economic policy change and changes in GNP per capita in the former Warsaw Pact states in Eastern Europe after 1991. What sample and method of analysis would you use? Why? • Gypsies and Travellers in your locality are widely criticised for their exploitation of welfare services. You regard the basis for this criticism and related hostility as a myth. A national charity offers funding for social action research to improve the conditions of Gypsies and other Travellers. Draft a research proposal setting out how you propose to access this group, what roles you expect to pay, indicators of success and your exit strategy. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5

13. Development and Democracy Research Methods in Politics Chapter 5