So how do I write this research paper for POS 4734?

The assignment is a research report on an empirical question in political science. I look forward to consulting with each of you individually on topic ideas. This should be an integrated formal paper. 

In general, I am looking for evidence that you can search and understand the literature in political science on a question that interests you, propose a research question based on that literature, discuss the advantages and limitations of the research design that you employ, do basic analysis of data to evaluate your hypothesis, and discuss how the results of your analysis relates to the existing literature and avenues for future research.   

This paper may serve as a preliminary analysis for an Honors Thesis or another ongoing research project, but it must address these requirements. The requirements include some analysis of data to show that you can integrate data analysis with your theoretical and substantive interest.

Style

• Does the paper follow the style guidelines for submission to a journal appropriate for its subject matter? (The APSA Style Guide is posted here.)
• If you are following a style other than that used for the American Political Science Review, please identify the journal.

• Is the purpose of the paper clearly stated? Is the research question placed in some theoretical context or contexts? 
  

The introduction of the paper should tell me, in general, what question you will be addressing, why it is interesting and/or important, and the general theoretical framework in which you place the question.  "Why am I reading this?"

Literature Review

• Does the paper identify relevant literature?
• Does the paper describe the major orientations to the question?

The literature review should show me that you understand how to find scholarly literature on the topic that interests you, and relate that literature to your research question.  A good way to start your literature search is to use the Social Science Citation Index to search for articles that have cited a particular article that you found intriguing.  The literature review should flow, because most of the literature that you review flows from earlier literature. It is useful to note how authors build on one another's findings.  "When I cite this paper later, to what literature does it contribute?"

Research Question

• Is the research question stated in the form of an hypothesis (or a few hypotheses), with clearly defined independent and dependent variables?
• Are the hypotheses empirical, general, plausible, and falsifiable?
  
• Does the paper place the research question in the context of the literature that has been reviewed?
• Are there alternative explanations that might be considered?
  

The literature review should flow into your research question, which should be stated in the form of an hypothesis (or a few hypotheses). In other words, after your review of the existing literature, what outstanding question do you have that you could answer? Why is this question interesting? How will the answer to the question further our collective knowledge in the field?  Or how will the answer to the question help policymakers or campaign managers understand the effectiveness of various techniques?

Research Design, Data, and Measures

• Is the chosen research design appropriate for the question being asked?
• Does the paper identify the sample that will be used to investigate the question; and is that sample appropriate?
• Does the paper discuss how the variables will be measured?
• If this is secondary analysis (as I expect most will be), is the dataset suitable?  Does it contain items that are suitable for measuring the variables of interest?
• Are the measurements based on empirical observations of units of analysis specified in the hypotheses?
  

From the research question, the paper should flow into the research design which tells me how you will carry out the research. You will need to identify what kind of research you will be doing (experiment, survey, aggregate data analysis), and why that is appropriate to your research question.  Most papers will probably use secondary analysis, and should give credit to the original collectors of the data.

Analysis

• Does the analysis provide an adequate test of the proposed hypotheses?  Does the analysis "fit" the proposed hypotheses?
• Is the basis of support or rejection of a hypothesis clearly specified?
• Are the tables showing the results of the analysis presented appropriately?
  
• Are the results of the analysis interpreted appropriately?
  

• Does the paper highlight the value of the research (relating the results of the analysis back to the theoretical question)?
• Does the paper acknowledge the limits of the research, including threats to internal and external validity?
  
• Does the conclusion provide a jumping off point for future research, suggesting other avenues to be investigated?
  

• Is the paper well written? Focused? Integrated? Can the reader follow the ideas that are expressed?
• Does the paper avoid apostophe errors and violations of the writing commandments?

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