|
    
|
|
Chapter 4 — The Scientific Enterprise Explore Additional Suggested Readings The following readings supplement those suggested in chapter 4 of the text. Achinstein, Peter. Science Rules: A Historical Introduction to Scientific Method. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004. Boorstin, Daniel. The Discoverers: A History of Man’s Search to Know His World and Himself. New York: Vintage, 1985. Fay, Brian. Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science: A Multicultural Approach. Abingdon, UK: Blackwell, 1996. Hoover, Kenneth, and Todd Donovan. The Elements of Social Scientific Thinking. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. Johnson, Janet Buttolph, Richard A. Joslyn, and H. T. Reynolds. Political Science Research Methods. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2005. Salsburg, David. The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century. New York: Henry Holt, 2002. Annotated Links The following links will help you explore the themes of chapter 4 on the Web. The Society for Political
Methodology The Society for Political Methodology is a section of the American Political Science Association. This site provides access to The Political Methodologist, an APSA newsletter, as well as to the society’s official journal, Political Analysis. In the research and teaching area of the site, numerous links for data collection are supplied. Visit this fun, animated site to learn more about the scientific method. This Web page, best viewed in flash, is a great tutorial regarding scientific methodology. It outlines the eleven stages and three supporting ingredients for scientific discovery, discusses how decision making is problem solving, and provides helpful information on creativity. The Gallup Organization is a think tank that has studied human nature and behavior for more than 70 years. Gallup is well known for its accurate public opinion polls which are accessible through this site. The poll section of Gallup online includes analyses of business, politics, social issues, and lifestyles. Most articles provide useful graphs or tables. Public opinion is a significant source of data in the political world. Fedstats is a government-sponsored site that acts as a gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. federal agencies. Topics are presented in A to Z format, but the site is also searchable by geographic location. Topics include agriculture, crime, health, education, environment, income, and labor. In addition, direct access to the Web sites of federal agencies that provide statistics is available through both alphabetical and subject-sorted listings. Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) SIPRI is another excellent source for data collection. The institute features four active databases that provide information on international relations and security trends, military expenditures, national export control systems, and chemical and biological weapons non-proliferation. In addition, numerous SIPRI projects, both active and nonactive, are explained thoroughly in the research section. Correlates of War
Project (COW) The Correlates of War Project is devoted to the study and exploration of the conditions associated with the outbreak of war. The COW site centers around a comprehensive archive of data sets that describe alliances, capabilities, cultural attributes, territorial changes, and more. This is an excellent example of data collection and theory formation.
|