Empirical Research and Writing

Part I: The Preliminaries Chapter 1: From Research Topic to Research Question Doing Social Science Research Questions and This Course's Research Project From Research Topic to Research Question Finding and Refining a Research Question Writing Your Paper Summary Key Terms Chapter 2: From Research Question to Theory to Hypothesis What Is a Theory? From Question to Theory From Theory to Hypothesis Writing Your Theory Section Summary Key Terms Part II: The Practicalities Chapter 3: Doing Pre-Research The Parts of an Empirical Paper How to Think About Literature(s) How to Find Literature(s) How to Organize Literature(s) How to Write the Literature Review Summary Key Terms Chapter 4: Choosing a Design that Fits Your Question Types of Hypotheses What Type of Analysis Should I Conduct? Overview of Techniques Summary Key Terms Chapter 5: Case Selection and Study Design for Qualitative Research Qualitative Study Design Hypothesis-Testing Techniques and Case Selection Writing Your Methodology Section Summary Key Terms Chapter 6: Qualitative Data Collection and Management Information, Data, and Evidence Measurement Maximizing Leverage Over Your Hypotheses Data Collection Techniques Sources and Resources Data Management Options Writing About Data Collection Summary Key Terms Chapter 7: Quantitative Data Collection and Management Identifying Data Needs: What Cases? Identifying Data Needs: What Variables? Measurement: Matching Concepts to Indicators Getting Ready-to-Use Data Collecting and Managing Your Own Data Summary Key Terms Chapter 8: Preparing Quantitative Data for Analysis Transferring Data into Your Stats Program Dealing With Missing Data Preparing to Analyze Your Data Other Data Manipulations The Theory-Data Danger Zone: Endogeneity, Simultaneity, and Omitted Variable Bias Summary Key Terms Chapter 9: Writing up Your Research The Abstract The Bookends The Results: Conventions of Reporting and Discussing Quantitative Analysis Discussing Qualitative Evidence and Claims Summary Key Terms Part III: Post-paper Processes Chapter 10: Practicing Peer Review Writing Without Whining Self-Editing Practicing Peer Review Writing Your Review of Peer Research Summary Key Terms Chapter 11: Posters, Presentations, and Publishing Presentations Posters Slip 'n' Slide Post-paper Possibilities Brief Remarks on Graduate Study in Political Science and International Relations Summary