Political Inquiry: Scope And Method Explored

Political inquiry is a broad and complex field that encompasses various methods and modes of investigation. At its core, political inquiry seeks to understand and explain political phenomena, behaviours, and institutions, as well as the underlying theories and assumptions. The scope of political inquiry is vast, ranging from the analysis of voting behaviours and government institutions to international relations and judicial politics. The methods employed in political inquiry can be broadly categorised into quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative methods rely on statistics, mathematics, and formal theories to analyse numerical data, while qualitative methods focus on non-numerical data, such as human behaviour and beliefs, using tools like surveys and observations. Beyond these two fundamental approaches, there are several recognised modes of inquiry in political science, including explanatory, interpretive, descriptive, analytical, and critical modes. Each mode offers a distinct perspective and contributes to the development of the discipline. Ultimately, the choice of method or mode depends on the specific research question and the nature of the political phenomenon under investigation.

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Interpretive mode: understanding the world through our own interpretation

Political science is a diverse field with multiple methods of inquiry. One of the five modes of inquiry in political science is the interpretive mode, which involves understanding the world through our own interpretation. This mode is chosen by many when analyzing political events as it is the most appropriate mode of investigation, given that we live in a world shaped by human interpretations and actions.

The interpretive mode is about making sense of the world by interpreting political actions and phenomena through our own lens. It involves understanding the underlying meanings, motivations, and contexts that shape political events and decisions. Interpretivists believe that social reality is constructed by individuals and their interactions, and therefore, the interpretation of these events is crucial to understanding them.

This mode of inquiry is particularly useful when trying to understand the complexities of human behavior and beliefs, which cannot always be quantified or measured numerically. It allows for a nuanced understanding of political actions by taking into account the intentions, values, and beliefs that drive them. By interpreting political events, scholars can uncover the underlying assumptions, ideologies, and power dynamics at play.

The interpretive mode often involves qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. This includes techniques such as observations, interviews, focus groups, and textual analysis. These methods help scholars gather insights and perspectives that are not always quantifiable but offer valuable information. Interpretivists may also utilize surveys to collect data from large samples of people, allowing for a broader understanding of populations and the generalization of findings.

By employing the interpretive mode, political scientists can analyze and critique the underlying structures and ideologies that shape political events. This mode of inquiry contributes to the development of the discipline by offering insights into the human aspects of politics, which are often central to political action and inaction.

Descriptive mode: explaining facts and events without analysis or theory

Political science is a broad field that encompasses various methods and modes of inquiry. One of these modes is the descriptive mode, which involves explaining facts and events without analysis or theory. This mode has often been overlooked in political analysis, seen as merely journalistic or unreflective. However, there is value in simply getting the facts right and providing a complete and intellectually sophisticated description.

The descriptive mode aims to faithfully and closely attend to events, setting aside analytical, ideological, and theoretical assumptions. It seeks to observe and report on political phenomena as they are, without imposing interpretation or judgement. This approach can be particularly useful when dealing with complex and nuanced subjects, where a neutral and objective perspective is needed to understand the essence of what is being studied.

One method within the descriptive mode is the phenomenological method, which attempts to understand the fundamental nature of political phenomena from an unbiased perspective. This method recognises that our analytical and ideological assumptions can influence our interpretation of events, and seeks to set these aside in favour of a pure description. By doing so, it provides a more accurate and complete understanding of the subject matter.

Another important aspect of the descriptive mode is its focus on data collection and observation. This mode of inquiry often employs qualitative methods, which involve the description and observation of non-numerical data. Qualitative approaches are particularly useful for understanding human-related data, such as behaviour and beliefs, which cannot always be easily quantified. By utilising qualitative tools, political scientists can gain insights and draw inferences from this complex data.

The descriptive mode of political inquiry also includes survey methods, which gather information from a large number of individuals or respondents. Surveys are a powerful tool for collecting data from representative samples of the population, allowing for generalisable findings. They can address issues of fact, attitudes, opinions, and future expectations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Overall, the descriptive mode of political inquiry plays a crucial role in providing a factual and unbiased foundation for further analysis and interpretation.

Quantitative methods: using statistics, mathematics and formal theory to analyse data

Political methodology is the toolbox used to put political theories and ideas into practice. There are two main methods of inquiry: experiments and observations. However, due to the complex nature of political phenomena, most analyses in political science are based on observations.

Observational methods of political inquiry include case studies, surveys, and the phenomenological method. The phenomenological method attempts to see the essence of political phenomena from a perspective separate from our analytical, ideological, and theoretical assumptions.

Quantitative methods are a data-driven approach that combines statistics, mathematics, and formal theory to analyse data and draw insights into key political questions. It involves the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of numerical data. For example, graduate students in political science may employ advanced research methods using quantitative data and cutting-edge computing to study the connections between economics and politics.

Quantitative methods provide a structured approach to political inquiry, allowing for the testing of theories, ideas, and assumptions. They help refine our understanding of politics and draw meaningful insights and inferences. For instance, statistical regression and correlation analysis are tools used to identify relationships between variables and draw conclusions.

However, not all data can be quantified, especially human-related data such as behaviour or beliefs. This is where qualitative methods come into play, providing a complementary approach to fill the gaps where quantitative methods fall short. Qualitative methods use description and observation of non-numerical data to draw inferences and explain political phenomena.

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Qualitative methods: explaining phenomena without numerical data, using description and observation

Qualitative methods are a type of social science research that collects and analyses non-numerical data to understand concepts, opinions, and experiences. It is commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, including anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences, and history. Qualitative research is particularly useful for understanding how people experience the world and interpreting the meanings people attribute to their behaviour, actions, and interactions.

Qualitative methods involve collecting and interpreting data through observations, interviews, focus groups, surveys, and secondary research. Observations involve recording detailed field notes about what the researcher has seen, heard, or encountered. Interviews and focus groups allow researchers to collect data through one-on-one or group conversations, respectively. Surveys involve distributing questionnaires with open-ended questions, while secondary research involves collecting existing data in various forms, such as texts, images, audio, or video recordings.

One of the key benefits of qualitative methods is their ability to provide an in-depth understanding of attitudes, behaviours, interactions, events, and social processes that comprise everyday life. They offer flexibility and adaptability to changes in the research environment and can often be conducted with minimal cost. Additionally, qualitative methods can provide a more realistic view of the world that may not be captured through numerical data and statistical analysis alone.

However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of qualitative methods. The scope of qualitative research is relatively limited, and its findings may not always be generalisable to larger populations or contexts. Researchers must also be cautious to avoid influencing the data or interpreting it through a biased lens. Qualitative research is particularly susceptible to biases such as observer bias, recall bias, and social desirability bias.

In the context of political inquiry, qualitative methods can be valuable for understanding political phenomena and the perspectives of those involved. It allows for a nuanced exploration of the complexities inherent in political systems and the experiences of individuals within those systems. By utilising descriptive, interpretive, and analytical modes of inquiry, qualitative methods can contribute to a deeper understanding of political events and the underlying motivations and implications.

Critical mode: knowledge derived from the experience of critical engagement within politics

Political science incorporates various social science research methods, including positivism, critical rationalism, interpretivism, and structuralism. Interpretivism, for instance, holds that human conduct cannot be explained in the same way as natural phenomena. Instead, the goal of knowledge in interpretivism is to understand the meaning of human actions and practices, such as the rules of a game and the significance of various plays within those rules.

One of the modes of inquiry in political science is the critical mode, which is considered the most provocative of the five modes. The critical mode is based on the epistemological claim that knowledge about politics and government can only come from the experience of critical engagement within politics. This engagement is from the perspective of those who are suppressed and repressed, i.e., those who suffer from domination.

Critical inquiry is marked by critique, reflexivity, and action (or deconstruction and reconstruction). It is characterised by tentativeness and openness, focusing on the process rather than concrete outcomes. This makes it challenging to reconcile critical inquiry with knowledge translation (KT) methods, which tend to "package" knowledge for practice and seek specific solutions. For example, postcolonial feminism in critical inquiry seeks to disrupt histories of race-based discourses, which is a social problem that extends into the future and does not have easy fixes.

Bringing critical inquiry and KT together highlights the need for ongoing reflexivity about how researchers work within the critical paradigm. Critical inquiry also faces challenges in reconciling differences within the critical tradition itself, which can be addressed by identifying common purposes to coalesce around. Additionally, the antagonistic stance of critique in critical inquiry can create difficulties in engaging with other stakeholders, such as healthcare administrators and practitioners, who may have different epistemological assumptions.

In terms of methods, political science research can be divided into quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative methods use statistics, mathematics, and formal theory to analyse numerical data and provide insights into political questions. Qualitative methods, on the other hand, do not rely on numerical or statistical data and instead use tools like narratives and storytelling to understand a particular culture or community. Other methods include surveys, experiments, and participant observations, which can be passive or active.

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