Research Design And Methods Questions Medium
In political science, research questions can be categorized into several types based on their nature and purpose. These types include descriptive, explanatory, exploratory, normative, and comparative research questions.
1. Descriptive Research Questions: These questions aim to describe and provide a comprehensive understanding of a political phenomenon or issue. They focus on gathering information about the who, what, when, where, and how of a particular political event or situation. For example, "What are the main factors influencing voter turnout in democratic elections?"
2. Explanatory Research Questions: These questions seek to explain the causes or reasons behind a political phenomenon. They aim to identify the relationships between variables and understand the underlying mechanisms that drive political processes. For example, "What are the factors that contribute to the rise of populist movements in contemporary politics?"
3. Exploratory Research Questions: These questions are used when the topic or issue is relatively new or not well-studied. They aim to explore and generate initial insights or hypotheses about a political phenomenon. For example, "What are the potential impacts of social media on political participation?"
4. Normative Research Questions: These questions focus on evaluating political systems, policies, or practices against certain ethical or moral standards. They aim to determine what ought to be done or what is considered desirable in political contexts. For example, "Should the death penalty be abolished as a form of punishment?"
5. Comparative Research Questions: These questions involve comparing different political systems, institutions, or policies to identify similarities, differences, and patterns across countries or regions. They aim to understand how political phenomena vary across contexts and what factors contribute to these variations. For example, "How do welfare policies differ between Scandinavian countries and the United States, and what factors explain these differences?"
It is important to note that these types of research questions are not mutually exclusive, and a single study may incorporate multiple types depending on the research objectives and design.