• Discusses step-by-step how to conduct research to support students through the entire research process
• Broad coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods makes it relevant to any research project
• Discussion of key debates of theory, methodology, and the philosophy of social science to broaden students' knowledge of research methods
• Includes a range of learning features such as chapter summaries and test questions to re-inforce students' understanding of research methods

New to this Edition:

• Updated and additional 'real world' examples, such as who voted for Brexit, the election of Donald Trump, and the impact of anti-terrorism policy on citizenship, show you how methods are used in practice
• New 'Research in Action' boxes provide summaries of published research, to help put your research project into practical context
• Reflects current developments in the field, including the importance of ethics, changes in digital research and internet ethnography, and analysis of the 'digital divide'

       
How do I determine my research question? How do I answer my research question? What is data? How do I conduct research in an ethical way?
   
Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to answer questions such as these. Using a step-by-step approach, the authors guide you through the process of asking and answering research questions, and the different methods used in political science. With coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors provide advice on how to be critical, rigorous and ethical when both evaluating research findings and conducting your own independent research.
  
The book emphasises how research can impact our ability to answer important political questions, and helps you to learn how to formulate significant questions, make sense of conflicting arguments, and develop your research skills.