This is the perfect guide to conducting a research project in politics and international relations. From formulating a research question and conducting a literature review to writing up and disseminating your work, this book guides you through the research process from start to finish.

The book:

- Is focused specifically on research methods in politics and IR

- Introduces the central methodological debates in a clear, accessible style

- Considers the key questions of ethics and research design

- Covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches

- Shows you how to choose and implement the right methods in your own project

The book features two example research projects - one from politics, one from IR - that appear periodically throughout the book to show you how real research looks at each stage of the process. Packed full of engaging examples, it provides you with all you need to know to coordinate your own research project in politics and international relations.

About the Author
Christopher Lamont is Assistant Dean of E-Track Programs and is Associate Professor of International Relations at the Institute for International Strategy, Tokyo International University. He has taught a number of research methods classes, including Research Design, Methodologies in International Relations, Methodologies and Research Practice, and Research Methods for Area Studies. He holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Glasgow (2008) and MSc in International and European Politics from the University of Edinburgh (2005) and a BA in International Studies from the University of Mississippi. Previously, Dr. Lamont was Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Groningen (2011-2018) and prior to that he was an R.C.U.K. postdoctoral fellow in the Transitional Justice Institute at the University of Ulster (2009-2011). His research interests include human rights and transitional justice, and he has published widely on the subject, including his monograph, International Criminal Justice and the Politics of Compliance (Ashgate, 2010), numerous peer reviewed journal articles and edited volumes. Mieczyslaw (Mietek) Boduszynski is Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Pomona College in California, USA. At Pomona, he teaches courses on U.S. Foreign Policy, the Middle East, democracy and democratization, and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He has advised dozens of undergraduate theses, an experience which has contributed greatly to this book. He has published two books, one on regime change in the Balkans and the second on U.S. policy in the Middle East, and is a recent contributor of op-eds and commentaries to international media. Prior to joining Pomona, Mietek was a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State with service in Albania, Kosovo, Japan, Egypt, Libya, and Iraq.

Reviews

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



Book Information
ISBN 9781526419088
Author Christopher Lamont
Format Paperback
Page Count 248
Imprint Sage Publications Ltd
Publisher Sage Publications Ltd
Weight(grams) 430g