Political Science

 

In his introduction to qualitative methods for social sciences, Stephen Van Evera warmly welcomes incoming graduate students at MIT with valuable insights and helpful tips. Originally a series of memos, his guide to graduate study has become an essential resource for those in political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, and history, as well as their advisers. Van Evera emphasizes the importance of framing, assessing, and applying theories in the social sciences and argues that the rules of scientific method should apply equally to all fields of study. He also provides novices with guidance on case studies, while questioning the narrow definition of research within dissertations. Van Evera also discusses the use and application of theories in the social sciences and the importance of ethical guidelines within the academic community.