Pol soc 360_01_research_design

1. POL / SOC 360-01
Spring 2015

4.  How researcher will study empirical question
 Must answer several questions:
 What theory or propositions will be tested?
 What are the appropriate units of analysis?
▪ Units of Analysis vs. Units of Observation

5.  What measurements are needed?
 Nominal, Dichotomous, etc.
 Ecological Fallacy and Reductionalist Fallacy
 How will this information be collected?
 What statistical procedures will be used to
analyze the data?
 Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods

6.  Purpose of Investigation
 Feasibility and Practicality
 Research Objectives:
 #1: Establish relationship between DV and IV
 #2: Demonstrate results in real life (external validity)
 #3: Does one phenomenon precedes another?
 #4: Eliminate alternative explanations

8.  “Correlation Does Not Equal Causation”
 Correlation
 Variable associated with one another
 Positive and Negative Relationships
 Causation
 One variable directly causes or explains the other
 How do we establish causality in research design?

9.  Association / Covariation
 Randomization
 Statistical Control
 Time Order
 Context
 Nonspuriousness

11.  Observed relationship between X andY is
spurious (or partly spurious) if there exists a third
variable “Z” which is:
 A cause ofY
 Correlated with X

12. Number of
Firefighters
(X)
Amount of Fire
Damage
(Y)
??????
(Z)

13. Number of
Firefighters
(X)
Amount of Fire
Damage
(Y)
Size of Fire
(Z)