Perspectives on Methods in Political Science

DOI10.1177/2321023013482791
AuthorDivya Vaid
Date01 June 2013
Published date01 June 2013
Subject MatterNotes on Methods
Military-Madrasa-Mullah Complex 103
India Quarterly, 66, 2 (2010): 133–149
A Global Threat 103
Perspectives on Methods in
Political Science
Divya Vaid
Political science research includes within its scope various methodological approaches and a broad array
of specific methods and techniques1 for the collection and analysis of empirical data. The purpose of this
section on Notes on Methods in the Studies in Indian Politics is to provide a space for the discussion of
new methods of data collection and analysis from around the world, as well as their applicability for
students of Indian politics. In addition to newer methods, this section also encourages short review
pieces discussing existing methodological approaches and distinctions between them, strengths and
weaknesses of various methods, discussions on the variety of techniques for the collection and analysis
of data, and the usefulness of these to the study of politics in India. Though issues of methodology are
crucial, the stress in this section of the Journal is on the application of these methods.
While empirical political science research has a long history in the country, there has been an insuf-
ficient discussion on the applicability and suitability of various techniques for the analysis of existing
data sources, or for the collection of primary data. With the increasing availability and use of statistical
programming packages (SPSS, STATA etc.) including free open-source resources (PSPP, R etc.),
secondary data use has increased considerably in the past few decades, though with still fairly limited use
in the Indian context.2 Often there is a trepidation regarding certain methods, in particular when there is
an unwritten hierarchy with quantitative, particularly ‘survey research methods’, often placed at the
bottom of the pyramid (see Yadav, 2008 for a discussion). This leads to attacks on the conclusions arising
from such research without a nuanced critique of the method or more rigorous arguments in favour of
possible alternatives.3
Hence, a focus on ‘methodological pluralism’ is crucial for this journal, as is the ‘multi-method’
approach for understanding political phenomenon (Palshikar, 2010). We thus welcome notes that engage
with the critiques of ‘quantitative survey methods’ along with debates on the generalizability of ‘qualita-
tive’ work, alternative methods such as discourse analysis and archival research, discussions on issues of
validity and reliability of various techniques and deliberations on differing methods that can be used col-
laboratively (through a mixed-method approach) to arrive at conclusions regarding the phenomenon
being investigated.
We also welcome brief notes on more specific techniques—for instance, on innovative uses of survey
and sampling techniques, including experimental questionnaire designs and survey implementation.
However, surveys, as we know, are simply one possible method available for the collection of informa-
tion and data (generally for larger-N studies). There are various other methods used by political scien-
tists. We welcome discussions on a whole gamut of methods from ‘qualitative’ to ‘quantitative’, and in
between. For instance, discussions could include notes on the use of aggregate data; comparison of
insights that can be gleaned from micro-economic and election survey data; the interface between geog-
raphy, spatial issues and politics; comparative analysis at both the national and the sub-national level to
Divya Vaid Centre for the Study of Social Systems, JNU, E-mail: divya.vaid.09@gmail.com
Notes on Methods
Studies in Indian Politics
1(1) 103–107
© 2013 Lokniti, Centre for the
Study of Developing Societies
SAGE Publications
Los Angeles, London,
New Delhi, Singapore,
Washington DC
DOI: 10.1177/2321023013482791
http://inp.sagepub.com

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