research methods in politics chapter 20 1 research methods in politics 20 writing-up... and in the...

Research Methods in Politics ChaptResearch Methods in Politics Chapter 20er 20

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Research Methods in Research Methods in PoliticsPolitics

2020

Writing-UpWriting-Up

‘‘. . . and in the end was the beginning’ . . . and in the end was the beginning’ (Chapter XIII, (Chapter XIII, The Last The Last Time)Time)


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Teaching and Learning ObjectivesTeaching and Learning Objectives

1.1. to consider when to begin writing-up to consider when to begin writing-up your researchyour research

2.2. to identify essential contentsto identify essential contents3.3. to learn how to communicate your to learn how to communicate your

research so that it stands out favourably research so that it stands out favourably from other similar worksfrom other similar works

4.4. to consider how best to maintain the to consider how best to maintain the interest of your readersinterest of your readers


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Writing-upWriting-up

Why?Why? How?How? What?What? So what?So what? To whom? Who is the readership?To whom? Who is the readership? Where? In what publication? What Where? In what publication? What

are ‘their’ rules?are ‘their’ rules?


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ReadershipReadership

determine languagedetermine language pre-knowledge: expert or novicepre-knowledge: expert or novice your relative statusyour relative status style: politics researchers tend to:style: politics researchers tend to:

– admit subjectivity and biasadmit subjectivity and bias– demonstrate enthusiasm and interestdemonstrate enthusiasm and interest– tell a good storytell a good story

report should lead readers stage-by-report should lead readers stage-by-stage through research process to stage through research process to enable them to fully share (or reject) enable them to fully share (or reject) conclusionsconclusions


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Publication RulesPublication Rules

number of wordsnumber of words presentation: recto or verso, line-presentation: recto or verso, line-

spacing, margins, binding, fontspacing, margins, binding, font referencingreferencing footnotes, end notesfootnotes, end notes check: tutors may be unaware of check: tutors may be unaware of

changeschanges


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StructureStructure

continuous, orcontinuous, or highly-structuredhighly-structured

– paragraph numbersparagraph numbers– sub-paragraph numberssub-paragraph numbers

advantagesadvantages


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WhenWhen

‘‘write-as-you-proceed’write-as-you-proceed’ parallel with theory/ literature review, fieldwork parallel with theory/ literature review, fieldwork

and analysisand analysis provides substantive evidence of progressprovides substantive evidence of progress basis for discussion with supervisor and basis for discussion with supervisor and

colleaguescolleagues assures sponsors/ fundersassures sponsors/ funders evidence for upgrading of academic awardevidence for upgrading of academic award prepare for many re-writesprepare for many re-writes


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Conventions and AdviceConventions and Advice write generally in the third person; write generally in the third person;

e.g. e.g. ‘it was considered that . . .’‘it was considered that . . .’ use the pronoun use the pronoun ‘I’ ‘I’ to emphasise to emphasise

your own position your own position avoid writing avoid writing ‘one’‘one’: use : use ‘you’‘you’ to to

share the text with the reader, e.g., share the text with the reader, e.g., ‘as you have seen’, ‘as you have seen’,

avoid gender problems of avoid gender problems of ‘his/her’‘his/her’ by referring to subjects as by referring to subjects as ‘they’‘they’ if if possiblepossible

using the present tense to describe using the present tense to describe historical events may be a good historical events may be a good literary device to create literary device to create excitement: however, it can excitement: however, it can become very confusing in academic become very confusing in academic reports. Instead, use the reports. Instead, use the pastpast tense tense to describe the methodology and to describe the methodology and field-work; reserve the field-work; reserve the presentpresent tense for your analysis and tense for your analysis and conclusions conclusions

qualify your assertionsqualify your assertions state assumptions clearlystate assumptions clearly strike balance between the strike balance between the

coverage and erudition given to coverage and erudition given to theoretical discussion, theoretical discussion, methodology, data, interpretations methodology, data, interpretations and conclusionsand conclusions

don’t write don’t write the data speaks for itselfthe data speaks for itself: : you must interpret the data you must interpret the data

avoid excessive spurious accuracy in avoid excessive spurious accuracy in the text, e.g. don’t say the text, e.g. don’t say ‘48.73%‘48.73%’, ’, write ‘write ‘nearly half’nearly half’: where you think : where you think that precise figures are helpful, give that precise figures are helpful, give them in footnotesthem in footnotes

follow normal grammatical follow normal grammatical conventionsconventions

avoid excessive acronyms: after a avoid excessive acronyms: after a time, the reader may forget what time, the reader may forget what they stand for and their significance. they stand for and their significance. Avoid inventing acronyms which are Avoid inventing acronyms which are the same or similar to well-the same or similar to well-established ones, e.g. don’t label established ones, e.g. don’t label independent research analysis as IRAindependent research analysis as IRA

seek to maintain pace and interest seek to maintain pace and interest ensure that your report is read by ensure that your report is read by

another person before you submit it. another person before you submit it. If English is not your first language, If English is not your first language, then seek the assistance of a proof-then seek the assistance of a proof-readerreader

be positive and up-beat: if you don’t be positive and up-beat: if you don’t sound confident of your research, sound confident of your research, then your readers are even less likely then your readers are even less likely to have confidence in your reportto have confidence in your report


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StructureStructure I – Abstract etcI – Abstract etc II – Chapter 1: IntroductionII – Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2; Theory and Literature ReviewChapter 2; Theory and Literature ReviewChapter 3: Method of Data CollectionChapter 3: Method of Data CollectionChapter 4: Data collected, e.g., case-studyChapter 4: Data collected, e.g., case-studyChapter 5: Analysis and DiscussionChapter 5: Analysis and DiscussionChapter 6: ConclusionsChapter 6: Conclusions

III – AppendicesIII – Appendices– Tabulated dataTabulated data– QuestionnaireQuestionnaire– TranscriptsTranscripts– Technical specificationTechnical specification– Statistical methods: which and why Statistical methods: which and why

IV - References and BibliographyIV - References and Bibliography


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Abstract, etcAbstract, etc

title: identify theorytitle: identify theory abstract: summarises reportabstract: summarises report preface: personal statementpreface: personal statement acknowledgementsacknowledgements declarationdeclaration contents pagecontents page list of figureslist of figures list of tableslist of tables


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Check-ListCheck-List Is the meaning clear?Is the meaning clear? Is the report well written? (tenses, Is the report well written? (tenses,

grammar, spelling, punctuation)grammar, spelling, punctuation) Is the referencing well done?Is the referencing well done? Does the abstract really give the Does the abstract really give the

reader a clear idea of what is in the reader a clear idea of what is in the report?report?

Does the title indicate the nature of Does the title indicate the nature of the study?the study?

Are the objectives of the study stated Are the objectives of the study stated clearly?clearly?

Are the objectives fulfilled?Are the objectives fulfilled? If hypotheses were postulated, are If hypotheses were postulated, are

they proved or not proved?they proved or not proved? Has a sufficient amount of relevant Has a sufficient amount of relevant

literature been studied?literature been studied? Does the literature review provide an Does the literature review provide an

indication of the state of knowledge indication of the state of knowledge in the subject? Is your topic placed in in the subject? Is your topic placed in the context of the area of study as the context of the area of study as such?such?

Are all the terms clearly defined?Are all the terms clearly defined? Are the selected methods of data Are the selected methods of data

collection accurately described? Are collection accurately described? Are they suitable for the task? Why were they suitable for the task? Why were they chosen?they chosen?

Are any limitations of the study Are any limitations of the study clearly presented?clearly presented?

Have any statistical techniques been Have any statistical techniques been used? If so, are they appropriate?used? If so, are they appropriate?

Are the data analysed and Are the data analysed and interpreted or merely described?interpreted or merely described?

Are the results clearly presented? Are the results clearly presented? Are tables, diagrams and figures Are tables, diagrams and figures well drawn?well drawn?

Are conclusions based on evidence? Are conclusions based on evidence? Have any claims been made that Have any claims been made that cannot be substantiated?cannot be substantiated?

Is there any evidence of bias? Any Is there any evidence of bias? Any emotive terms or intemperate emotive terms or intemperate language?language?

Is the data likely to be reliable? Is the data likely to be reliable? Would another researcher get the Would another researcher get the same results?same results?

Are recommendations feasible?Are recommendations feasible? Are there any unnecessary items in Are there any unnecessary items in

the appendices? and, finally,the appendices? and, finally, Would you give the report a good Would you give the report a good

grade of you were the examiner? If grade of you were the examiner? If not, an overhaul is necessary.not, an overhaul is necessary.

(Bell, 1997: 162)(Bell, 1997: 162)


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Word Distribution: SuggestedWord Distribution: Suggested

Chapter 1Chapter 1 IntroductionIntroduction ScopingScoping 5%5% Chapter 2Chapter 2 Theory and Literature ReviewTheory and Literature Review

30%30% Chapter 3Chapter 3 Method of Data CollectionMethod of Data Collection

5%5% Chapter 4Chapter 4 The data, e.g., case studyThe data, e.g., case study

30%30% Chapter 5Chapter 5 Analysis and DiscussionAnalysis and Discussion

20%20% Chapter 6Chapter 6 Conclusions and ImplicationsConclusions and Implications

10%10%

Avoid reducing the analysis and discussion: adequate coverage is Avoid reducing the analysis and discussion: adequate coverage is essential if conclusions to be shared.essential if conclusions to be shared.


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Questions for Discussion or AssignmentsQuestions for Discussion or Assignments

1.1. Select three research reports from approved journals on Select three research reports from approved journals on the same topics, e.g., election turnout. Contrast and the same topics, e.g., election turnout. Contrast and compare these. Which do you regard as being most compare these. Which do you regard as being most successful in attracting your interest? Why? What successful in attracting your interest? Why? What improvements would you suggest to the other two?improvements would you suggest to the other two?

2.2. Select a dissertation previously approved by your Select a dissertation previously approved by your department for BA, MA or PhD purposes appropriate to department for BA, MA or PhD purposes appropriate to your own degree. Critically evaluate the writing-up. What your own degree. Critically evaluate the writing-up. What improvements would you make? Give specific examplesimprovements would you make? Give specific examples

3.3. Prepare a programme for your research project on a Prepare a programme for your research project on a week-by-week basis. Integrate your proposed supervision week-by-week basis. Integrate your proposed supervision meetings and writing, and re-writing of chaptersmeetings and writing, and re-writing of chapters

research methods in politics chapter 20 1 research methods in politics 20 writing-up... and in the...

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