Exercício 2

[Ulysses]

Olá pessoal,

Conforme combinamos na última aula, você deverão entregar o exercício 2 na segunda-feira, dia 17 de dezembro. Este é um exercício obrigatório que vale 15% da menção final. As perguntas abaixo, que também estão disponíveis no capítulo 14 do nosso livro base (Johnson, Political Science Research Methods), servem como um guia para se avaliar qualquer projeto, artigo, dissertação. Para este exercício vocês deverão respondê-las a partir da leitura do artigo de Barret e Barrington* (que está no capítulo 14 do livro e também segue em pdf no arquivo anexo). Espera-se que as respostas tenham, em média, 3-4 páginas.

*Andrew W. Barrett and Lowell W. Barrington, "Bias in Newspaper Photograph Selection," Political Research Quarterly 58, 4 (Dec. 2005): 609-618.

 

Antes de responder as questões, recomenda-se a leitura de Janet Buttolph Johnson and H. T. Reynolds with Jason D. Mycoff, Political Science Research Methods, 6^th Edition, (Washington: CQ Press, 2008), caps. 3, 4, 5 e 6.

1. Do the researchers clearly specify the main research question or problem? What is the “why” question?
   
2. Have the researchers demonstrated the value and significance of their research question and indicated how their research findings will contribute to scientific knowledge about their topic?
   
3. Have the researchers proposed clear explanations for the political phenomena that interest them? What types of relationships are hypothesized? Do they discuss any alternative explanations?
   
4. Are the independent and dependent variables identified? If so, what are they? Have the authors considered any alternatives or control variables? If so, identify them. Can you think of any variables that the researchers did not mention?
   
5. Are the hypotheses empirical, general and plausible?
   
6. Are the concepts in the hypotheses clearly defined? Are the operational definitions given for the variables valid and reasonable?
   
7. What method of data collection is used to make the necessary observations? Are the observations valid and the measures reliable?
   
8. Have the researchers made empirical observations about the units of analysis specified in the hypotheses?
   
9. If a sample was used, what type of sample is it? Does the type of sample seriously affect the conclusions that can be drawn from the research? Do the researchers discuss this?
   
10. What type of research design is used? Does the research design adequately test the hypothesized relationships?
    
11. Are the statistics that are used appropriate for the level of measurement of the variables?
    
12. Are the research findings presented and discussed clearly? Is the basis for deciding whether a hypothesis is supported or refuted clearly specified?