Research Methods in Politics and International Relations

Reviews / Votes

There's no better learning experience for political science students than carrying out an original research project. But the task can be daunting for students as well as instructors. Research Methods in Politics and International Relations is an excellent new resource that will be a useful companion as students set out on this endeavor. Boduszynski and Lamont's book is methodologically inclusive and touches on important subjects that are often overlooked, such as research ethics and publishing. -- Gene Park Research Methods in Politics & International Relations is a highly useful, engaging, and accessible methods textbook anchored in concise and compelling chapters and clear explanations of key dimensions of qualitative and quantitative research processes. Moreover, the book provides undergraduates with an in-depth understanding of how to design and carry out different types of research projects, ranging from research papers, capstone research projects, and senior dissertations.


-- Victor Peskin Research training is more important than ever for students of Politics and International Relations at all levels. Lamont and Boduszynski provide a comprehensive, pluralist and accessible guide to the research process and the challenges and dilemmas it entails, a great resource for teachers and students alike.


-- Dr Daniela Lai Boduszynski and Lamont's new textbook breaks new ground in promoting a comprehensive introduction to research methods in politics and international relations. I especially appreciated the unique discussion of research ethics, which provides an opportunity to reflect on the broader significance of one's research as well as the importance of protecting human subjects. The text wholeheartedly embraces the notion of methodological pluralism, giving equal voice to a range of qualitative and quantitative methods. It does this while avoiding the divisive debates about whether some approaches are superior to others. The progression of chapters also usefully mirrors the research process, from exploring topics to writing and publishing. -- Michael Byron Nelson "Writing Up", Chapter 11, is an excellent resource. This is a practical chapter that presents a road map to essay writing, an outline for a thesis, and a

check list for the nervous student. Beautifully, the authors remind us that "academic writing, reflecting the social phenomena that we study, is not a

book reviews linear process" (p. 167), while continuing to instruct us on the contents of an introduction, the importance of the thesis or main argument, the best ways to present data and empirical analysis, and the elements all good conclusions must contain. Used in the way it was intended, as a guide to writing, a reference for further reading, and as a plan for research design, Research Methods in Politics and International

Relations has the potential to improve the readability of student work and provide a template for lecturers to guide undergraduates and postgraduates alike through the minefield of research. -- Sarah Lieberman