Book Review: Maryann Barakso, Daniel M Sabet and Brian Schaffner, Understanding Political Science Research Methods: The Challenge of Inference
| Published date | 01 August 2016 |
| Author | Israel Solorio Sandoval |
| Date | 01 August 2016 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1478929916655062 |
| Subject Matter | Book ReviewsGeneral Politics |
451
since all chapters provide insightful analyses by
hypotheses and variables and, most impor-
area experts.
tantly, introducing them to the scientific study
The volume identifies four major causes of
of political phenomena. This book is about how
the crisis resilience of EEs: first, the willing-
to do political science properly (from a positiv-
ness and ability of countries ‘to implement
ist point of view). In doing so, it provides
standard, Keynesian, countercyclical policies
guidelines for best practice in order to help stu-
in response to a shock’ (p. 202); second, previ-
dents to deal with the challenge of inference in
ous macroeconomic reforms that led to rela-
the different stages of the research process.
tively low levels of debt and inflation; third,
The first part of the book explains in detail
previous financial sector reforms and strong
the backbone of scientific research, taking a
‘developmentalist financial levers’ (p. 216)
close look at the logic of inference, the impor-
such as capital controls and foreign exchange
tance of a research question for the conception
reserves that helped to avoid ‘twin crises’ in
and development of a project and the crucial
banking and currency markets; and fourth, low
role of theory in the research enterprise. In this
interest rates in advanced economies and high
regard, an advantage of this book is that it pays
commodity prices that produced a global eco-
considerable attention to those critical aspects
nomic environment favourable to EEs.
of any research design that are frequently over-
The editors make the more general theoreti-
looked in research methods textbooks. The
cal point that perspectives that dichotomise
second part presents the ‘menu’ of approaches
neoliberal and developmentalist policy para-
a student has in order to carry out the research
digms have become ‘less relevant’ (p. 227), as
project. By giving an overview of descriptive
the EEs that best...
To continue reading
Request your trial