Overview
Question 1.
Discussion Thread: Scientific Research and Research Design
- Describe the primary goal of scientific research.
- What is a scientific law versus a theory versus an explanation? Describe the key features of good theory (hint: look primarily at KKV and Van Evera).
- Explain the crucial differences between the experimental, statistical, and comparative methods (according to Lijphart).
- What is the "logic of inference"? Why do King, Keohane, Verba, and Keohane spend time discussing this logic?
- Explain the major components of research design.
- What plays the "leading role" in determining which research design is appropriate for your project?
- How do research design decisions determine the potential impact of research projects?
Question 2
Discussion Thread: Research Principles
Select a scholarly quantitative article on a topic of your choice. Review how the author interpreted and discussed the results of their study. What areas did the author do well to help the reader understand the implications of the results, and what areas could be improved? Are there lingering questions you have about the study that could have been addressed? What visuals did the author present, and did they help to understand the results of the study? What methods did the author employ, and why?