Political Science Research in Practice

Nothing rings truer to those teaching political science research methods: students hate taking this course. Tackle the challenge and turn the standard research methods teaching model on its head with Political Science Research in Practice. Akan Malici and Elizabeth Smith engage students first with pressing political questions and then demonstrate how a researcher has gone about answering them, walking through real political science research that contributors have conducted. Through the exemplary use of survey research, experiments, field research, case studies, content analysis, interviews, document analysis, statistical research, and formal modeling, each chapter introduces students to a method of empirical inquiry through a specific topic that will spark their interest and curiosity. Each chapter shows the process of developing a research question, how and why a particular method was used, and the rewards and challenges discovered along the way. Students can better appreciate why we need a science of politics—why methods matter—with these first-hand, issue-based discussions.

The following features make this an ideal teaching tool:

• An introductory chapter that succinctly introduces key terms in research methodology
• Key terms bolded throughout and defined in a glossary
• Broad coverage of the most important methods used in political science research and the major subfields of the discipline
• A companion website designed to foster online active learning
• An instructor’s manual and testbank to help incorporate this innovative text into your syllabus and assessment.

Akan Malici is Associate Professor of Political Science at Furman University where he teaches International Relations and Research Methodology. His scholarly interests are in the areas of foreign policy decision making and peace and conflict studies. His books include When Leaders Learn and When They Don't, The Search for a Common European Foreign and Security Policy, U.S. Presidents and Foreign Policy Mistakes, and Rethinking Foreign Policy Analysis.

Elizabeth S. Smith is Professor of Political Science at Furman University where she teaches Research Methodology, American Politics, Political Behavior, and Women and Politics. Her scholarly interests are in the areas of political socialization, political psychology, and gender and politics. She has authored articles on the teaching of political science, service learning, social capital formation among young people, and gender and politics. She is the 2007 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.