Slides are available at: http://individual.utoronto.ca/sealey

and will be posted to Blackboard shortly.

POL 242Introduction to Research Methods

 

Final Paper Tutorial, Part IWriting About Stats

August 4, 2011  

Anthony Sealey anthony.sealey@utoronto.ca

http://individual.utoronto.ca/sealey

Please be sure to sign the attendance form.

Agenda

(1) Introduction • (2) The Basic Components of an

• Empirical Paper (3) A Final Note(4) Working on Your Report

Research QuestionsIntroduction

•The Basic Components of an Empirical Paper

• ______________________

•(1) An Introduction •(2) Literature Review •(3) Hypotheses•(4) Data and Methodology •(5) Presentation of Results •(6) Conclusion

•Introduction•______________________

• Engage the reader with your topic. • Clearly identify your dependent

variable. • Explain what your study does and

why it’s important. • Provide an outline of the structure

of your paper.

•Literature Review•______________________________

• Should identify the key findings of other research. • Mike has specified that he wants

you to include at least four academic sources. • Ideally, you can use this to lead in

to your hypotheses.

•Hypotheses•____________________

• Explain both (1) how and (2) why you expect your hypotheses to be related to your dependent variable. • Unlike in previous assignments, in

more polished writing there’s no need to specify null hypotheses. • Try to connect to lit review.

•Data and Methodology •______________________________________

• Identify and discuss the data set you are using for your research.• Explain in detail how your

variables are measured, and any transformations performed on the original data source (i.e. recodes). • Identify and discuss the method

used and why it’s appropriate.

•Presentation of Results •______________________________________

• Identify the key findings of your analysis. • Introduce results sequentially,

from more simple to more sophisticated techniques. • Remember to discuss both the

substantive and statistical significance of your findings.

•Conclusions•_____________________

• Discuss your hypotheses and reconsider your original ideas in light of your findings.• Overall, what have we learned? • Discuss any extensions you can

suggest or implications for future political science research?

Finally, don’t forget to include a ‘References’ section at the end!

Research QuestionsFinal Notes

Please be sure to pick up a copy of the handout.

More_________

• Prof. Fletcher occasionally teaches a more advanced course• Sociology and Economics • York’s ISR (cheap) • Michigan’s ICSPR (expensive)

Student Anthony Teacher Anthony

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Working on Your Report_________________

Please use the rest of the time to work on your paper. A good place to start is by beginning research for your literature review to learn what other researchers have found or to begin reading the paper assigned for the next tutorial to get a sense of the way that research papers are presented?

Research QuestionsThanks for a great semester!