Research Design & Method Selection (eBook)

Chapter 1: Introduction: the Basics of Social Science Research Designs
Deductive and inductive research
Explanatory and interpretative research designs
Deductive, explanatory research designs and their core components
Research design choices: x-centered and y-centered projects
Quality criteria for social science research
Chapter 2: Detecting Puzzles and Selecting Good Research Questions
Research questions’ essentials
How to find empirical puzzles and select a good explanatory research question
Feasibility
How to make choices: selecting good research questions
Chapter 3: Working with Theories
Why do we need theories for explanatory social science projects?
Selecting theories: how many and which ones do we need?
Working with theories: how to develop and select hypotheses?
Making choices: which and how many theories and hypotheses to use?
Chapter 4: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed-Method Projects—How to Make the Choice
Advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative projects
Mixed-method combinations: Advantages and challenges
Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method projects – How to make a choice?
Chapter 5: How to Select Cases
What is a case?
Case selection: An essential task for comparative research
How many and which cases should be selected?
Making choices: How to select cases?
Chapter 6: Making Choices between Methods of Data Collection
The measurement of variables
Overview of data sources and methods of data collection
Databases and compendiums
Primary Sources: Documents
Interviews
Surveys and questionnaires
Focus groups
Participant observation
The importance of triangulation
The importance of data management
Summary – Choices on data collection
Chapter 7: Making Choices between Qualitative Methods of Data Analysis
Types of Comparisons in Qualitative Case Studies
Process-tracing
Summary: Choosing between methods of qualitative analysis
Chapter 8: Making Choices between Quantitative Methods of Data Analysis
Detecting variable types and describing variables
Choosing between linear and logistic regression analysis
Choosing between advanced methods of quantitative data analysis
Chapter 9: Making Choices in Writing and Sharing Research
Writing techniques
Disseminating research outputs