Research Methods Lecture 1 Introduction

Course Objectives
You will learn to CRITICALLY evaluate resources
Where are the methodological problems with a resource? Which sources are better or worse and why?
You will learn to INTERPRET quantitative data
We will NOT be running it ourselves--WHY?
You will learn to write a research paper
Plagiarizing Yourself
It CAN BE an honor code violation to re-submit a paper written for one class for an assignment in another class
You should NEVER do this without permission!!!
HOWEVER, in this class, you are welcome to do the assignments based upon previous or ongoing research projects
Assignments for Tomorrow
What Is Research Methods?
NOT "what do we know?"
HOW do we know? (Epistemology)
HOW do we learn new things?
HOW do we interpret data?
HOW did we do our research and do those methods give us good data?
Can we trust our results?
Cannot separate methods from ethics
Empirical v. Normative Analysis
Many methodologies
Qualitative
Quantitative
Mixed Methods
This Course
Lectures
1-2 lectures posted each day
About 60 minutes each
One by noon, one by 5 pm
You listen at your leisure
Will cover content and comments on assignments
Text
Two texts, primarily as reference materials
Articles for methods critiques
Who Am I?
Dr. Courtney Thomas
PHD, Planning, Governance, and Globalization, SPIA-VT
VAP Department of Political Science and International Studies
Undergraduate Advisor
Courses:
PSCI 1004, 1024, 2054, 2064, 1034, 2024
Research
Contact Information
copowell@vt.edu
Research Methods
PSCI 2024
Winter 2017
Dr. Courtney Thomas

Lecture 1: Introduction
Quantitative v. Qualitative
Quantitative methodologies focus on statistical analysis
Tabular analysis, regression testing, etc.
Qualitative methodologies focus on non-statistical techniques that give insight into the social or political world
Interviews, case studies, direct observation, surveys, focus groups, discourse analysis
Mixed methods combines the two
Continued...
Office Hours
None--email
Assignments: NO EXTENSIONS!
Short Assignments
Methods Critiques
Research Question
Thesis Statement
Methods Statement
Literature Review
Paper Outline
Research Paper
DUE by 5 pm
TWO Short Assignments:
Who Are You?
Stories with a Hole

Details are posted on Canvas under the Assignments tab
You will submit your assignments there as an attachment