Political Science Research Methods

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering political science research design, variable types, comparative methods, interviewing techniques, and measurement concepts.

Empirical Method

An approach to research characterized by findings that are observable, repeatable (replicable), and verifiable.

Normative

An approach to inquiry that is value-driven and not testable through empirical observation.

Box-Car Method

An ineffective literature review format that simply summarizes sources in a disconnected sequence (e.g., 'Article 1… Article 2…') rather than organizing them synthetically by headings.

Independent Variable (IV)

A phenomenon that is thought to influence, affect, or cause some other phenomenon.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome or effect that is thought to be caused by or depend on the independent variable; the main focus, target, or phenomenon being explained in research.

Antecedent Variable

A variable that occurs prior in time to the independent variable and affects other independent variables.

Intervening Variable

A variable that occurs close in time to the dependent variable, comes after the independent variable, is affected by the independent variable, and influences the dependent variable.

Case Study

An in-depth qualitative study of a single unit used to test causation, identify new variables, and test relationships.

Mill's Method of Agreement

A comparative case-selection method where cases share the same outcome on the dependent variable (agreement on the DV) as well as the same key independent variable.

Mill's Method of Difference

A comparative case-selection method where cases share the same independent variables but produce different outcomes on the dependent variable.

Direct Observation

A field research method where the researcher systematically watches and pays attention to events without participating in them.

Participant Observation

A field research technique where the researcher actively takes part in the social setting or activities being studied.

Elites

Specific groups of people who hold specialized knowledge, experience, or expert opinions.

Snowball Effect (Snowball Sampling)

A method used to gain access to hidden populations by asking existing contacts or interviewees for referrals and name drops to find additional subjects.

Structured Interview

An interview format that resembles a survey, featuring standardized closed questions asked in the same sequence to facilitate comparison.

Unstructured Interview

An exploratory, conversational interview format with non-specific, flexible questions that may follow any direction.

Semi-Structured Interview

A commonly used interview format featuring a set list of core questions while allowing flexibility for follow-up and clarifying questions.

Grand Tour Question

An interview question that is excessively broad and open-ended (e.g., asking an employee at Microsoft, 'How was your day?').

Dark Figure

An issue in statistical analysis referring to unobserved, missing, or guessed numbers that are not captured in reported data.

Hawthorne Effect

A reactive phenomenon where research participants alter their behavior because they know they are being observed.

Content Analysis

A research technique that analyzes textual or visual material by systematically examining how often and in what ways specific topics are covered.

Nominal Variable

A categorical variable whose values consist of unordered names or labels with no mathematical hierarchy (e.g., country of origin).

Ordinal Variable

A variable whose categories possess an explicit rank or order, but lack specified or measured numerical intervals between values (e.g., an ideology scale).

Ratio Variable

An inherently numerical variable that features equal measurement intervals and a true, meaningful zero point (e.g., age of a population).

Measures of Central Tendency

Statistical indicators that describe the typical or central value within a variable's distribution.

Mean

The average value calculated by summing all individual values of a variable and dividing by the total number of values.

Median

The exact middle value that splits an ordered distribution of data in half.

Mode

The specific category or value that occurs with the greatest frequency in a dataset.

Episodic Record

Archival materials created and preserved in a casual, personal, or non-systematic manner (e.g., memoirs, correspondence, pamphlets, diaries).

Running Record

Continuous, systematic documentary records produced regularly by organizations (e.g., Federal Election Commission records, World Resources, World Factbook).