Research Methods for Political Science

David E. McNabb is Professor Emeritus and continuing adjunct professor at the Pacific Lutheran University School of Business. He has taught undergraduate and graduate management and administration courses for Edmonds Community College, Olympic College, Oregon State University, the University of Maryland-University College (Europe), the American University in Bulgaria, and the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia, a regional business education program in Northern France, and the master’s in public administration program at Evergreen State College. Dr. McNabb has served in advisory positions for the U.S. Census Bureau, Seattle and Kirkland, Washington, and as an elected commissioner for a water and wastewater district in Washington State.

Introduction Part 1: Foundations of Political Science Research 1. Introduction to Research Methods 2. Legal and Ethical Environment of Research 3. Research in Political Science 4. Paths Taken in Political Science Research 5. Research Decisions: Approaches and Designs Part 2: Quantitative Research Methods 6. Fundamentals of Measurement and Statistics 7. Introduction to Sampling 8. Exploratory Research: Probing Designs 9. Descriptive Research: Survey Designs 10. Experimental Research: Causal Designs 11. Basic Exploratory and Descriptive Statistics 12. Testing Research Hypotheses 13. Correlation and Simple Linear Regression 14. Exploring Multivariate Statistics 15. Research with Very Large Data Sets (Big Data) 16. Parametric vs. Nonparametric Statistics Part 3: Qualitative Research Methods 17. Beginning Qualitative Research: Document Research 18. Expository Research I: Text and Archival Designs 19. Expository Research II: Content, Meta-Analysis & Semiotics 20. Explanatory Research I: Case Studies and Historical Research 21. Explanatory Research II: Grounded Theory Designs 22. Interpretive Research I: Ethnographic Designs 23. Interpretive Research II: Hermeneutic Analysis Designs 24. Critical Research I: Feminist and Empowerment Designs 25. Critical Research II: Action Research Designs 26. Analyzing and Interpreting Qualitative Research Data Part 4: Mixed Methods Designs 27. Introduction to Mixed Methods Research Designs 28. Mixed Methods Research Designs Part 5: Appendices Appendix A. Presenting Data in Tables, charts and Graphs Appendix B. Preparing a Research Proposal Appendix C. Organizing and Writing a Research Report Appendix D. Using SPSS