Summary Literatuur- Political Science Research Method 1 (MAN-BPRA204)
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Course
Political Science Research Method 1 (MANBPRA204)
Institution
Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (RU)
These are all the case studies of political science research methods that you need for the exam. By looking at the examples, you also learn the material better.
Literature 1: Why are gender quota laws adopted by men?
Catalano Weeks, Anna (2018)
General information:
Research question: Why are gender quota laws adopted by men?
Research type: positive, empirical & explanatory
- Explanatory explains motivation and role of predominantly male elites in quota reforms
Research design: Theory centred
- Deductive builds on previous research and deduces hypotheses
Research objective: Theory testing
- Test two hypotheses
o Uses established theories to formulate her hypotheses which she ten tests later
Case study design: Comparative case study design
- Compares two sets of matched countries
Case selection strategy: Diverse cases selection & most similar case selection
Quota countries based on temporal logic
o Belgium and Portugal
- Most similar cases Non-quota countries based on six variables
o Austria (as contrast to Belgium) & Italy (as contrast to Portugal)
Population:
Theoretical population: Political elites in countries that have adopted/debated gender quota laws
Study population: Advanced democracies (with or without quota laws) & broader dynamics of institutional and policy
change relating to equality in representation
Case (unit of analysis): Countries
- Sample Belgium, Portugal, Austria & Italy
Causality:
Level of analysis: Cross-case level & Within-case level
Causal mechanism: There are two hypotheses in this article:
1. Interparty competition= male elites support quota’s to distinguish their party from progressive competitors and
avoid electoral losses
2. Intraparty competition= quotas are used by national leaders to gain control over candidate selection in the face
of resistance from entrenched local party elites
- Coleman’s bathtub:
X= Interparty competition / Intraparty competition
Actors= Male party leaders
Behaviour= Aim to distinguish from parties / To increase their control
Y= Gender quota laws adopted
Perspective towards causality: Probalistic view on causality
- Infer causation Comparative & within case logic of interference
Variant of process-tracing: Theory testing process tracing
Sampling method: Purposeful sampling
- Focus is on subjects who can offer the best evidence regarding gender quota debates/adoption
Interview:
Philosophical perspective interviewing: Traveler perspective
- Author searches for complex motivations and interpretations of the political elites, through an interactive,
exploratory process
Type of interview: Semi-structured
Model of interview: Constructionism (collaborative)
Nature & Meaning relationship in interview: Collaborative
Qualitative content analysis:
,Philosophical perspective: Neo-positivist perspective
- Empirical evidence and the search for generalizable patterns, while still recognizing the complexity of
political behaviour and motivations
Category formation process: Concept-driven
Type of content analysis: Discourse analysis
- It is about the meaning/motivations from the party elite, and how they justify/explain that
Ethics:
Research ethics towards audience: Production, analytical transparency and data access
- Productive Selection of interviewees and the methods used for data collection
- Analytical Discussing mechanisms of inter- and intraparty competition and how these relate to the adoption
of gender quotas
- Data access Details about the sampling procedure and interview methods are included
o Not direct access to the raw material
Trustworthiness: Authenticity, portability, precision and impartially
Production transparency:
- Authenticity Genuine insights from political actors through elite interviews, aiming to capture their true
thoughts and motivations regarding gender quota laws
- Portability Suggestion that the framework could be tested cross-nationally in future studies
o Main focus on specific case studies analysed
Analytical transparency:
- Precision Providing detailed narratives, clear arguments and careful methodology
- Impartially Acknowledges biases, such as possibility that interviewees may not report accurate information
o Controlled by cross-checking claims and presenting divergent opinions
, Literature 2: Characteristics of four micro states
Veenendaal, Wouter (2013)
General information:
Research question: How does a small population size affect the nature of political competition?
Research type: Positive, empirical, descriptive & explanatory
- Descriptive provides detailed description of political system and competition in the four states
- Explanatory Seeks to explain why/how population affects political competition
Research design: Theory-centred
Deductive builds on large literature on calls and contemporary democratic theory
Research objective: Theory testing
- Tests three lines of reasoning
Case study design: Comparative case study design
- Compares three lines of reasoning
Case selection strategy: Most different case selection
Population:
Theoretical population: States
Study population: (democratic) microstates
Case (unit of analysis): Political systems in microstates
- Sample San Marino, St Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles and Palau
Causality:
Level of analysis: Cross-case & Within case level
Causal mechanism: There are two causal mechanisms
1. The absence of ideological divisions leads to personalistic rather than pragmatic competition
2. Social intimacy and overlapping roles in small societies result in political competition that is shaped by
personal relationships rather than political platforms
- Coleman’s bathtub:
X= (Small) size states
Actors= Citizens, politicians & political elites
Behaviour= Personal relationships & multiple roles
Y= Personalistic nature of political competition
Perspective towards causality: Probalistic view on causality
- Infer causation Comparative & within case logic of interference
Variant of process-tracing: Theory testing process tracing
Sampling method: Purposeful sampling
- Focusses on the size of states
Interview:
Philosophical perspective interviewing: Traveler perspective
- Author engages with various stakeholders to gather insights about their political systems and their experiences
with them
Type of interview: Semi-structured
Model of interview: Constructionism (collaborative)
Nature & Meaning relationship in interview: Reciprocal
Qualitative content analysis:
Philosophical perspective: Interpretivist
- Emphasis on understanding the subjective experiences and meanings that individuals attach to political
contestation in microstates
Category formation process: Concept-driven
Type of content analysis: Discourse analysis
- Focus on understanding the language, relationships and social dynamics that shape political competition in the
microstates
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