OVERVIEW

In Chapter 2 we discussed the art of theory building. In this chapter we discuss the art of putting it all together to produce effective research. As is the case with theory building, there is no magic formula for putting together an effective research manuscript, but there certainly are good manuscript-assembling strategies. We will begin this chapter with an elaboration on some of the themes discussed in Chapter 2. We then turn to a more in-depth discussion of how to examine published research, which takes advantage of the fact that you have now absorbed the lessons and strategies presented in this book. As such, we can now discuss the dissection of previous research at a higher level, and prepare you to start producing research of your own.

TWO ROUTES TOWARD A NEW SCIENTIFIC PROJECT

We began this book with three goals. First, to make you a better consumer of information. Second, to enable you to understand theoretical debates more easily in your other political science classes. And third, to motivate and equip you to begin to do your own research. This last chapter is dedicated to this third objective.