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Theory and Methods in Political Science
A broad-ranging and pluralistic textbook which highlights the rich variety of approaches to studying politics. Written by an international team of experts, this fully revised fourth edition offers cutting-edge coverage from fundamental to contemporary issues. Integrating guides to further reading and clear examples of how research methods can be applied, it enables readers to feel confident about taking their study of politics forward.
An ideal foundation for study and research in political science, this textbook will be essential to students at any stage of their degree. It serves as core reading on undergraduate and postgraduate political analysis, theory and methods courses. In demonstrating how independent research is undertaken in political science, the book allows students and early career researchers to begin thinking about formulating their own research agendas.
This new
- Leads the way with fresh new ideas and perspectives with the help of new co-editor Vivien Lowndes
- Includes new chapters on post-structuralism as a theoretical approach and on 'big data' as a methodological resource
- Offers an international perspective on political science, with discussion of global as well as domestic politics and a range of international cases and examples.
An ideal foundation for study and research in political science, this textbook will be essential to students at any stage of their degree. It serves as core reading on undergraduate and postgraduate political analysis, theory and methods courses. In demonstrating how independent research is undertaken in political science, the book allows students and early career researchers to begin thinking about formulating their own research agendas.
This new
- Leads the way with fresh new ideas and perspectives with the help of new co-editor Vivien Lowndes
- Includes new chapters on post-structuralism as a theoretical approach and on 'big data' as a methodological resource
- Offers an international perspective on political science, with discussion of global as well as domestic politics and a range of international cases and examples.
391 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 5, 2023
به روم نیارید. مجبورم اینقدر روش تحقیق بخونم.
May 20, 2026
The Essential Toolkit for Any Serious Political Scientist
If you are preparing for exams or planning to write serious academic papers in political science, this book is an absolute necessity. It serves as a comprehensive, well-structured guide through the often-intimidating landscape of political theory and methodology.
What I liked:
Editorial Cohesion: With edited volumes where every chapter is written by a different author, you usually expect a jarring shift in tone and quality. Surprisingly, that is not the case here. The editors did a fantastic job of maintaining a consistent, highly accessible, and clear writing style throughout the book.
Accessibility: Complex ontological and epistemological debates (like realism vs. constructivism, or quantitative vs. qualitative dilemmas) are broken down in a way that is thorough yet easy to comprehend. It doesn't oversimplify the concepts, but it doesn't hide behind dense academic jargon either.
Practical Value: It is an incredibly useful tool for anyone looking to understand how to construct a research design and apply methods effectively in their own scientific work.
Why not 5 stars?
As with any edited collection, a few chapters felt slightly less engaging or didn't fully capture my interest compared to the core methodological sections. However, this is highly subjective and depends on your specific research focus.
Final Verdict:
A very solid, reliable, and practical textbook. It strips away the unnecessary fluff and provides a clear roadmap for political analysis. Highly recommended for students and researchers alike.
If you are preparing for exams or planning to write serious academic papers in political science, this book is an absolute necessity. It serves as a comprehensive, well-structured guide through the often-intimidating landscape of political theory and methodology.
What I liked:
Editorial Cohesion: With edited volumes where every chapter is written by a different author, you usually expect a jarring shift in tone and quality. Surprisingly, that is not the case here. The editors did a fantastic job of maintaining a consistent, highly accessible, and clear writing style throughout the book.
Accessibility: Complex ontological and epistemological debates (like realism vs. constructivism, or quantitative vs. qualitative dilemmas) are broken down in a way that is thorough yet easy to comprehend. It doesn't oversimplify the concepts, but it doesn't hide behind dense academic jargon either.
Practical Value: It is an incredibly useful tool for anyone looking to understand how to construct a research design and apply methods effectively in their own scientific work.
Why not 5 stars?
As with any edited collection, a few chapters felt slightly less engaging or didn't fully capture my interest compared to the core methodological sections. However, this is highly subjective and depends on your specific research focus.
Final Verdict:
A very solid, reliable, and practical textbook. It strips away the unnecessary fluff and provides a clear roadmap for political analysis. Highly recommended for students and researchers alike.
January 4, 2022
Did I want to read this book? Not really. Was it useful? Yes, it was.
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September 21, 2023okej från o med nu ska jag bara lägga till kurslitteratur som är lite mer spännande
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews