Are you interested in political science but don’t know exactly what methods and tools are used to conduct political science analyses? Do you want to explore various research approaches and tools to successfully understand politics? Well, don’t worry. This article covers some of the most prominent methods, research approaches, and tools used in political science.
What Is Political Science?
Before understanding political science methods, it is important to understand what political science is, and why research approaches and tools are an integral part of political science analyses.
Political science is an interdisciplinary field that examines the governmental and non-governmental institutions that influence the society, economy, and consequent development pattern of a nation. Political science studies the activities and decisions of individuals, groups, and organizations that affect the distribution of power in a country. Political science research helps us understand the behavior of nations and trends in global politics.
Research Approaches in Political Science
Political science draws on multiple disciplines such as philosophy, economics, international relations, linguistics, history, and sociology. Political scientists have developed various research approaches to study politics at different levels.
Quantitative Research
The quantitative research approach is based on the scientific method and is used to explore political phenomena. This approach usually involves large-scale surveys, experimentations, and statistical analyses. This research method enables us to examine relationships between different political variables and processes. It also helps us conduct causal analysis to understand the dynamics of political behavior.
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is an interpretive approach to political science. This approach is used to study subjective human elements such as emotions, beliefs, and attitudes related to politics. Here, political scientists rely on in-depth interviews and participant observations to collect data. This method enables us to draw meaningful inferences about political phenomena and gain a deeper understanding of political realities.
Comparative Political Research
Comparative political research involves the comparison of two or more political systems or institutions to ascertain similarities and differences in behavior, perspectives, and policies. Comparative research in political science usually compares laws, constitutions, legislation, policies, techniques, and structures of different political systems and draws inferences about political behaviors and outcomes.
Political Science Research Tools
Political scientists use various qualitative and quantitative research tools to collect information on political factors and processes. Here’s a look at some of the commonly used political science research tools:
Surveys
Political scientists extensively use surveys to collect data from a set of respondents. Surveys are used to discover political opinions, attitudes, and demographics. This research method can also be used to better understand the causes and effects of political phenomena.
Experiments
In most social science experiments, the researcher manipulates one or more factors to observe their effect on the participants’ behavior. Experiments are used to explore the determinants of social and political behavior. For example, researchers have designed various experiments to test the relationship between public opinion and voting behavior.
Interviews
Interviews are commonly used to collect qualitative data in political science research. Interviews are mainly used to understand people’s opinions on politics, laws, and policies. Interviews can be structured (i.e., open- and closed-ended questions) or semi-structured (i.e., open-ended questions).
Focus Groups
Focus groups are used to explore attitudes and opinions regarding political issues of public importance. Several participants are brought together to discuss their views on a particular topic under the guidance of a moderator. Focus group sessions last several hours and range from 8 to 10 individuals.
Secondary Datasets
Political scientists also make use of secondary datasets—political factors, policies, and outcomes are recorded to provide information about politics at the national and international levels. This method enables the researchers to observe relationships between political processes and solutions to political issues.
Political science methods are an integral part of conducting social science analyses. This article introduced you to some of the most popular research approaches and tools used in political science. From quantitative research and experiments to interviews and focus groups, each of these methods has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is up to you to choose the right method depending on the nature of research you want to conduct.
