Political Research : Methods and Practical Skills

Halperin & Heath's market-leading text offers an accessible guide to both quantitative and qualitative methods, equipping students with essential skills for independent study. Its three-part structure ensures a holistic understanding of the research process, from the philosophy of social science to practical methodology and report writing.

The most accessible and practical guide to research methods written especially for politics and international relations students. Key features - Discusses step-by-step how to conduct research to support students through the entire research process - Broad coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods makes it relevant to any research project - Discussion of key debates of theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science to broaden students'' knowledge of research methods - Includes a range of learning features such as chapter summaries and test questions to re-enforce students'' understanding of research methods - Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support New to this Edition - New content on mixed methods in Chapter 6 to highlight the advantages of using different methods or approaches as part of the same study. - Additional coverage of recent debates and concerns about transparency in research and ‘open science’, digital data, and analysing social media content. - Updated examples throughout to cover topical issues in political research, such as the rise of far-right movements and parties, issues relating to immigration and refugees, and the intergenerational transmission of political preferences. - Now available as an enhanced ebook, featuring video reflections from recent graduates who share their experience of conducting independent research, self-test questions, and flashcard glossaries.Digital formats and resources Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and it is supported by online resources. The following additional resources are available to students: - Other Students Say videos, where graduate students in Politics and International Relations share their experience conducting research - Self-test questions at the end of each chapter section allow students to check and consolidate their knowledge - Flashcard glossaries improve understanding of content - Example datasets to prompt active engagement and hands-on experience Adopting lecturers will have access to the following teaching support resources: - Seminar questions and activities - Tutorials for data analysis software - Test bank of questions - PowerPoint slides