1) This is a Research Report, a 3,000 word report outlining how the research methods could be applied to an actual research project.
2) In the report, make sure to: a) State the research question.
b) Discuss the pros and cons of several possible methodologies for addressing the question.
c) Outline and explain the chosen methodological approach.
d) Discuss any hurdles you might face in applying the chosen methodology and indicate how you expect to deal with them.
3) You should normally show knowledge of two methods.
4) My professor told me: (Go through how you would answer the question using Small-N comparative analysis and then say what the costs and benefits are. Then do the same for Process-Tracing).
5) The methods I have covered in class are: 1) Ethnography and interviewing as research methods, 2) Critical discourse analysis, 3) Archival research, 4) Qualitative comparative analysis.
*Small-N comparative analysis: We find multiple cases of whatever we’re interested in and we compare them with each other in order to find patterns in how the cases behave. There are 2 basic forms of comparative method: The method of agreement and The method of difference and the analysis of correlation.
*Process-tracing: Is a method that involves following the steps in the causal process observations, demonstrating that each is taking place. It links the dependent and independent variable through a process of intervening variables. It involves the analysis of a single case study and as such cannot provide a strong causal explanation. It may function as a supplementary methods of analysis to compensate for this weakness: by outlining causal chains which flow from X to Y.