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Scientific research aims to ultimately reach a valid inference regarding the political or
social world (King, Keohane, and Verba 1994, 3). Scientific research is ultimately an
ideal approximation based on qualitative or quantitative research (King, Keohane,
and Verba 1994, 7). Scientific research is conducted using various methods,
including experimental, statistical, and comparative methods. These three methods
all have the same end goal: a scientific explanation (Lijphart 1971, 683). A scientific
explanation is built around two elements, establishing a relationship between two or
more variables while all other possible variables are controlled for and remain
constant (Lijphart 1971, 683). Although the experimental, statistical and comparative
methods all have the same goal, there are crucial differences between the three
methods. The experimental method uses two equal groups, one used as the
experiment group and the other used as the control group (Lijphart 1971, 683). The
experimental group is exposed to a stimulus, and the two groups are then compared
to each other (Lijphart 1971, 683). If a difference between the experimental and
control group is found, it is attributed to the introduced stimulus (Lijphart 1971, 683).
This method allows the researcher to know the relationship between the variables
and also account for no other variables being involved (Lijphart 1971, 683). This
makes the experimental method extremely ideal; however, there are many ethical
and practical deterrents to this method as well (Lijphart 1971, 683).
On the other hand, the statistical method uses empirically observed data which can
then be conceptually manipulated (Lijphart 1971, 684). The statistical method differs
from the experimental because variables cannot be manipulated situationally to
determine a relationship amongst the variables (Lijphart 1971, 684). The
comparative method is much like the statistical method; however, the number of
cases and variables cannot be systematically controlled by partial correlations as the
number is too small (Lijphart 1971, 684). The comparative method is not adequate to
use in place of the experimental method in the social sciences; however, it is the
imperfect substitute method to use (Lijphart 1971, 684). The most significant
difference between the experimental, statistical and comparative methods is that
variables cannot be manipulated and controlled in the statistical and comparative
methods, as they can be in the experimental method. The logic of inference is
applied to both quantitative and qualitative research in such a way as to connect
them (King, Keohane, and Verba 1994, 3). Both types of research share an
underlying form of logic that creates the framework for conducting research (King,
Keohane, and Verba 1994, 3). Ultimately, research is concerned with providing
inferences based on practical information surrounding the world we live in (King,
Keohane, and Verba 1994, 7). The significant components of research design are
what type of research will be conducted, qualitative or quantitative, and the methods
used. The type of research design social sciences most often use is qualitative as it
allows for practical problems to be studied to seek an understanding (Riker 1986,
10). The leading role in determining which research design is appropriate is what
type of question is attempting to be answered. In qualitative research, the statistical
or comparative method is most often used, as the variables cannot be controlled or
manipulated. This research focuses on problems in the real world that cannot be
controlled by something such as the experimental method. The type of research
design that is used can impact the research project as the type of answer or
inference being sought will be much different.
References
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King, Gary, Keohane, Robert O., Verba, Sidney, and Keohane, Robert O. O.
“Designing Social
Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research.” Princeton: Princeton University
Press. (2014). ProQuest Ebook Central.
Lijphart, Arend. “Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method.” The American
Political
Science Review 65, no. 3 (1971): 682–93. https://doi.org/10.2307/1955513.
Riker, William H. "The Place of Political Science in Public Choice." Public
Choice (1986-1998) 57,
12085. 3 (06, 1988): 247, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fplace-political-science-public-
choice%2Fdocview%2F194620140%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D12085.
