The scientific method involves asking questions based on what we observe in the world, coming up with a potential answer to that question based on our background research, and then developing a specific way to test whether that answer is wrong based on new observation.
Empirical research tests a hypothesis based on new information and is defined by the methodology it uses to gather information and test it. This video covers the following points: the distinction between empirical and normative questions and between a hypothesis and a thesis (or what I call research vs theory).
This video reviews the differences between different types of sources used in political analysis, including peer reviewed publications.
Most empirical research articles have a very specific structure that makes them easier to understand. In this video, I describe this structure so that you can learn to read these articles more efficiently.
A variable is a concept or a measure of something that varies. This video discusses their function in research (cause and effect as variables) and what kind of information they describe (a categorical vs a continuous data).
Defining and measuring your variables.
Start by thinking about the outcome or effect you are interested in first, then think about what might cause that effect.
A hypothesis is a specific, testable, falsifiable statement describing a relationship between variables.
You can say something is a cause if there is a correlation, the cause comes before the effect, and you rule out alternate explanations.
Internal validity means you have identified a causal relationship. Threats to internal validity include: measurement bias, reverse causality, and omitted variable bias.
The fundamental problem of causal inference defined, how experiments work, and the pros and cons of observational vs experimental research.
Using qualitative methods for historical analysis, including causal diagrams and path dependency.