1.6 Research design types

Research design types are crucial in political science for gathering and analyzing data. Quantitative designs use numerical data to test hypotheses, while qualitative designs explore complex phenomena through non-numerical data. Mixed methods combine both approaches for a more comprehensive understanding.

Comparative designs compare cases to identify patterns, while longitudinal designs track changes over time. Each type has strengths and limitations, and researchers choose based on their research questions and available resources. Understanding these designs helps students critically evaluate political research and conduct their own studies.

Quantitative research designs

• Quantitative research designs involve the collection and analysis of numerical data to test hypotheses and draw conclusions about political phenomena
• These designs are often used to establish cause-and-effect relationships, measure the strength of associations between variables, and generalize findings to larger populations

Experimental designs

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• Involve the manipulation of one or more independent variables to observe their effect on a dependent variable
• Participants are randomly assigned to treatment and control groups to ensure that any differences in outcomes can be attributed to the manipulation of the independent variable
• Examples: Randomly assigning voters to receive different campaign messages to assess their impact on voting behavior, or randomly assigning legislators to different committee assignments to assess their impact on legislative outcomes

Quasi-experimental designs

• Similar to experimental designs but lack random assignment of participants to treatment and control groups
• Often used when random assignment is not feasible or ethical
• Examples: Comparing the outcomes of a policy change in one state to outcomes in a similar state that did not implement the change, or comparing the attitudes of individuals who were exposed to a natural disaster to those who were not

Survey research

• Involves the use of questionnaires or interviews to collect data from a sample of individuals
• Can be used to measure attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and demographic characteristics
• Examples: Conducting a national survey to assess public opinion on a particular policy issue, or surveying members of a particular organization to assess their satisfaction with leadership

Content analysis

• Involves the systematic analysis of written, verbal, or visual communication to identify patterns, themes, or trends
• Can be used to analyze media coverage, political speeches, or social media posts
• Examples: Analyzing the frequency and tone of media coverage of a particular candidate during an election campaign, or analyzing the content of legislative debates to identify key arguments and positions

Qualitative research designs

• Qualitative research designs involve the collection and analysis of non-numerical data, such as text, images, or observations
• These designs are often used to explore complex social and political phenomena, generate new theories or hypotheses, and provide rich, detailed descriptions of particular cases or contexts

Case studies

• Involve the in-depth analysis of a single case or a small number of cases to generate insights into a particular phenomenon
• Can be used to explore the unique features of a particular case or to identify patterns across multiple cases
• Examples: Conducting a case study of a particular social movement to understand its origins, strategies, and outcomes, or conducting a comparative case study of multiple countries to understand the factors that contribute to democratic transitions

Ethnographic research

• Involves the immersion of the researcher in a particular social or cultural context to observe and document the behaviors, beliefs, and experiences of the people in that context
• Can be used to generate rich, detailed descriptions of particular communities or groups and to identify patterns and themes in their social and political lives
• Examples: Conducting ethnographic research in a particular neighborhood to understand the impact of gentrification on long-time residents, or conducting ethnographic research in a government agency to understand the culture and practices of bureaucrats

Phenomenological research

• Focuses on understanding the lived experiences of individuals who have experienced a particular phenomenon
• Involves in-depth interviews or other forms of data collection to capture the subjective experiences and meanings that individuals attach to the phenomenon
• Examples: Conducting phenomenological research to understand the experiences of refugees who have fled conflict or persecution, or conducting phenomenological research to understand the experiences of individuals who have participated in a particular social or political movement

Grounded theory

• Involves the generation of new theories or explanations based on the systematic analysis of qualitative data
• Researchers collect and analyze data in an iterative process, constantly comparing and refining their emerging theories based on new data
• Examples: Conducting grounded theory research to develop a new theory of political mobilization based on interviews with activists and participants in social movements, or conducting grounded theory research to develop a new theory of policy implementation based on observations of government agencies

Narrative research

• Focuses on the stories and narratives that individuals use to make sense of their experiences and to communicate their beliefs and values
• Involves the collection and analysis of personal stories, life histories, or other forms of narrative data
• Examples: Conducting narrative research to understand how individuals construct their political identities through the stories they tell about their lives, or conducting narrative research to understand how social movements use storytelling to mobilize supporters and generate public support

Mixed methods research designs

• Mixed methods research designs involve the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data within a single study
• These designs are often used to provide a more comprehensive understanding of complex social and political phenomena, to triangulate findings from different data sources, and to address the limitations of single-method approaches

Convergent parallel design

• Involves the simultaneous collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, with the goal of comparing and integrating the findings to provide a more complete understanding of the phenomenon under study
• Examples: Conducting a survey and focus groups simultaneously to assess public opinion on a particular policy issue, or conducting a content analysis of media coverage and in-depth interviews with journalists to understand the factors that shape media framing of a particular issue

Explanatory sequential design

• Involves the collection and analysis of quantitative data, followed by the collection and analysis of qualitative data to help explain or elaborate on the quantitative findings
• Examples: Conducting a survey to identify patterns in voting behavior, followed by in-depth interviews with a subset of survey respondents to understand the reasons behind their voting choices, or conducting an experiment to test the effectiveness of a particular intervention, followed by focus groups with participants to understand their experiences and perceptions of the intervention

Exploratory sequential design

• Involves the collection and analysis of qualitative data, followed by the collection and analysis of quantitative data to test or generalize the qualitative findings
• Examples: Conducting in-depth interviews with a small sample of individuals to identify key themes and patterns, followed by a larger-scale survey to test the prevalence and correlates of those themes in a broader population, or conducting ethnographic research to identify potential barriers to political participation, followed by a survey to assess the prevalence and impact of those barriers in a larger population

Embedded design

• Involves the embedding of one type of data (either quantitative or qualitative) within a larger study of the other type
• Examples: Embedding qualitative case studies within a larger quantitative survey to provide more in-depth understanding of particular cases or contexts, or embedding a quantitative survey within a larger qualitative ethnographic study to provide more generalizable data on particular variables of interest

Multiphase design

• Involves multiple phases of data collection and analysis, with each phase building on the findings of the previous phase
• Can involve any combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, and can be used to address complex research questions that require multiple stages of inquiry
• Examples: Conducting a multiphase study to develop and test a new intervention for increasing political participation among marginalized groups, with each phase involving different combinations of quantitative and qualitative methods to refine and evaluate the intervention

Comparative research designs

• Comparative research designs involve the comparison of two or more cases or units of analysis to identify similarities, differences, and patterns
• These designs are often used to test theories or hypotheses about the causes or consequences of political phenomena, to identify best practices or lessons learned from different contexts, and to generate new insights and explanations

Most similar systems design

• Involves the comparison of cases that are similar in most respects but differ on the key variable of interest
• Used to control for potential confounding variables and to isolate the effect of the key variable on the outcome of interest
• Examples: Comparing two countries with similar political, economic, and social characteristics but different electoral systems to assess the impact of electoral systems on political stability and representation, or comparing two states with similar demographic and economic profiles but different policies on a particular issue to assess the impact of those policies on outcomes

Most different systems design

• Involves the comparison of cases that differ in most respects but are similar on the key variable of interest
• Used to identify the common factors that contribute to a particular outcome across diverse contexts
• Examples: Comparing countries with different political, economic, and social characteristics but similar levels of political violence to identify the common factors that contribute to political instability, or comparing organizations with different structures, cultures, and goals but similar levels of innovation to identify the common factors that foster creativity and adaptability

Longitudinal research designs

• Longitudinal research designs involve the collection and analysis of data from the same individuals or units over an extended period of time
• These designs are often used to track changes or trends over time, to identify the causes and consequences of those changes, and to test theories or hypotheses about the dynamic processes that shape political phenomena

Panel studies

• Involve the collection of data from the same individuals at multiple points in time
• Used to track changes in attitudes, behaviors, or outcomes over time and to identify the factors that contribute to those changes
• Examples: Conducting a panel study of voters to track changes in their political preferences and behaviors over the course of an election campaign, or conducting a panel study of legislators to track changes in their policy positions and voting patterns over the course of their careers

Cohort studies

• Involve the collection of data from individuals who share a common characteristic or experience (such as being born in the same year or experiencing a particular event) at multiple points in time
• Used to identify the long-term effects of particular experiences or exposures on political attitudes, behaviors, or outcomes
• Examples: Conducting a cohort study of individuals who came of age during a particular political or social movement to assess the long-term impact of that experience on their political attitudes and behaviors, or conducting a cohort study of individuals who were exposed to a particular policy or program to assess its long-term effects on their outcomes

Trend studies

• Involve the collection of data from different individuals or units at multiple points in time, but using the same measures or indicators
• Used to track changes or trends in attitudes, behaviors, or outcomes at the population level over time
• Examples: Conducting a trend study of public opinion on a particular issue over several decades using data from multiple surveys, or conducting a trend study of voter turnout rates over multiple election cycles using data from official records

Cross-sectional vs longitudinal designs

• Cross-sectional designs involve the collection of data from a sample of individuals or units at a single point in time
• Longitudinal designs involve the collection of data from the same individuals or units at multiple points in time
• Cross-sectional designs are often used to provide a snapshot of a particular phenomenon at a particular moment in time, while longitudinal designs are used to track changes or trends over time
• Cross-sectional designs are generally less expensive and time-consuming than longitudinal designs, but they cannot establish causal relationships or track changes over time

Observational vs interventional studies

• Observational studies involve the collection of data from individuals or units without any manipulation or intervention by the researcher
• Interventional studies involve the manipulation or intervention by the researcher to assess the impact of a particular treatment or exposure on outcomes
• Observational studies are often used to identify associations or correlations between variables, while interventional studies are used to establish causal relationships between variables
• Observational studies are generally less expensive and more feasible than interventional studies, but they cannot control for potential confounding variables or establish causal relationships with the same level of certainty as interventional studies