Political Science Research Methods set the standard for being relevant, comprehensive, and ever-mindful of its student audience. With the seventh edition, the authors further refine their popular text to be more welcoming and more intuitive than ever-an ideal gateway to understanding not just the "how" but also the "why" behind research in the discipline.
Updates to this new edition include:
- new case studies of political science research in chapter 1-from causes of income inequality, to repression of human rights, to judicial decision making-that serve as touchpoints throughout the book;
- updated discussion in chapter 2 about the empirical approach to political science;
- a heavily revamped chapter 3 with clearer guidance on how to develop research questions along with steps for doing a literature review more appropriately placed earlier in the text;
- new extended case study on polling and the health care debate in chapter 7 on sampling;
- greater explanation of how to do content analysis in chapter 9 on document analysis;
- separate chapters for descriptive and inferential statistics step out instruction and increase accessibility; and
- a brand new annotated research article in chapter 16.
Bolded key terms, a glossary and explanatory charts, figures, and tables help aid students learning. "Helpful-hint" boxes give students nuts-and-bolts reminders they can refer to when conducting their own research.