Chapter I Research Methods in IR
Chapter I Research Methods in IR
Chapter I Research Methods in IR
Where does your research fall along the empiricist/ interpretivist divide?
Interpretive
- I want to understand how revolution
transformed local identities.
- I want to understand the symbolism of self-
revolutions.
Revolution.
Characteristics of Interpretivism/PostPositivism
It focuses on understanding social meanings embedded within
international politics.
Interpretivists seek to understand identities, ideas, norms, culture
in international politics.
Interpretivists work out peoples interpretations of the world by
putting themselves in their shoes.
Characteristics of Empiricism/Positivism
This approach is based on the assumption that:
knowledge can be accumulated through experience and observation;
the study of the social world is analogous to the study of the natural
world;
IR should be studied in a systemic, replicable, and evidence-based
manner;
theories of IR can be generated and tested through careful
observation and experimentation.
Research Paradigm/Philosophy
A research philosophy is a belief about the way in which data about
a phenomenon should be gathered, analyzed and used.
Two major research philosophies/paradigms have been identified
in the Western tradition of science: Empiricism/Positivism and
Interpretivism.
Most IR research falls in one of the two research
paradigms/epistemological traditions.
IR Research
IR has incorporated research methodologies and methods from other
disciplines such as law, economics, political science, history sociology,
etc.
Because of the absence of research methods textbooks in this field,
students of IR frequently find it difficult to select their research
methodologies and methods.
IR researchers frequently approach their research in two waves:
They conduct their studies from the perspectives of the interest observer, not a
partisan, and then explain who they have observed.
They use a theory to explain an IR phenomenon.