Posted: September 13th, 2017

Scope and Methods

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

Analysis Paper Guidelines
Scope and Methods

Length: 5-7pp., double-spaced, one-inch margins, Times New Roman print. All tables need to be attached at the END of the document. All of the following material should be written as a formal paper. 

1. Begin your paper with the hypothesis(es) you propose to study, stated as a research hypothesis(es). 
(5 points)

For example
H1: your first stated hypothesis

Choose at least one control variable.

2. Discuss your methodology. (15 points)
a. What dataset are you using?

b. What operational steps are necessary to test your hypotheses/theory? 
This should include a description of your sample, your units of analysis, and your measures for your independent and dependent variables. If you transformed your measure, you should include that here. You should include a very detailed description of each variable. (e.g. “I measure ideology using the question “…” where 1 = extremely conservative, 2 = conservative, 3 = independent, 4 = liberal, and 5 = extremely liberal). If the writing seems clumsy to you, you can include the coding in a footnote. 

c. For each variable: What are the strengths and weaknesses of your measures? Are they valid measures? 

3. Findings. 
a. Use tables to display your findings. Label each table and place each table at the end of the paper. 

b. For each of the following, you should use all three variables. Your original 
independent and dependent variables along with one additional control variable.

c. Discuss your findings in the following order. Be sure to order your tables accordingly.