Research Methods in Politics and International Relations
- Christopher Lamont - Tokyo International University
- Mieczyslaw P. Boduszynski - Pomona College, USA
This is the perfect guide to conducting a research project in Politics and International Relations. From formulating a research question and conducting a literature review to writing up and disseminating your work, this book guides you through the research process from start to finish.
The book:
- Is focused specifically on research methods in Politics and IR
- Introduces the central methodological debates in a clear, accessible style
- Considers the key questions of ethics and research design
- Covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches
- Shows you how to choose and implement the right methods in your own project
The book features two example research projects – one from Politics, one from International Relations– that appear periodically throughout the book to show you how real research looks at each stage of the process. Packed full of engaging examples, it provides you with all you need to know to coordinate your own research project in Politics and International Relations.
There’s no better learning experience for political science students than carrying out an original research project. But the task can be daunting for students as well as instructors. Research Methods in Politics and International Relations is an excellent new resource that will be a useful companion as students set out on this endeavor. Boduszynski and Lamont’s book is methodologically inclusive and touches on important subjects that are often overlooked, such as research ethics and publishing.
Research Methods in Politics & International Relations is a highly useful, engaging, and accessible methods textbook anchored in concise and compelling chapters and clear explanations of key dimensions of qualitative and quantitative research processes. Moreover, the book provides undergraduates with an in-depth understanding of how to design and carry out different types of research projects, ranging from research papers, capstone research projects, and senior dissertations.
Research training is more important than ever for students of Politics and International Relations at all levels. Lamont and Boduszynski provide a comprehensive, pluralist and accessible guide to the research process and the challenges and dilemmas it entails, a great resource for teachers and students alike.
Boduszynski and Lamont’s new textbook breaks new ground in promoting a comprehensive introduction to research methods in politics and international relations. I especially appreciated the unique discussion of research ethics, which provides an opportunity to reflect on the broader significance of one’s research as well as the importance of protecting human subjects. The text wholeheartedly embraces the notion of methodological pluralism, giving equal voice to a range of qualitative and quantitative methods. It does this while avoiding the divisive debates about whether some approaches are superior to others. The progression of chapters also usefully mirrors the research process, from exploring topics to writing and publishing.
“Writing Up”, Chapter 11, is an excellent resource. This is a practical chapter that presents a road map to essay writing, an outline for a thesis, and a
check list for the nervous student. Beautifully, the authors remind us that "academic writing, reflecting the social phenomena that we study, is not a
book reviews linear process” (p. 167), while continuing to instruct us on the contents of an introduction, the importance of the thesis or main argument, the best ways to present data and empirical analysis, and the elements all good conclusions must contain. Used in the way it was intended, as a guide to writing, a reference for further reading, and as a plan for research design, Research Methods in Politics and International
Relations has the potential to improve the readability of student work and provide a template for lecturers to guide undergraduates and postgraduates alike through the minefield of research.
