Explorations is designed specifically to develop the tools that Canadian students need to pursue research in political science. The authors take students through every step of the research process, from conceptualizing research problems and determining the nature of the evidence required to
using statistical tests and reporting research findings. Throughout the book, "Apply Your Understanding" sections challenge students to put the skills they are learning into practice, while "Expand Your Knowledge" sections illustrate how empirical research methods can be used to enrich understanding
of the political world. Engaging and comprehensive, this is the only introduction to political research methods written within a Canadian context.

Keith Archer's profile page

Loleen Berdahl is the Director of Research at the Canada West Foundation. Dr. Berdahl's particular research interests include urban policy, regionalism and federalism.  In 2001 and 2003, Dr. Berdahl directed the Looking West surveys, western Canada's largest-ever public opinion survey. Dr. Berdahl has co-authored two books, Mindscapes: Political Ideologies Toward the Twenty-First Century (1996, with Roger Gibbins), and Explorations: A Navigator's Guide to Quantitative Research in Political Science (1998, with Keith Archer and Roger Gibbins).

Loleen Berdahl's profile page

"This is a very good text . . . clearly written, logically organized in the main, and quite comprehensive."

--Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Queen's University

"The authors have a nice, expressive style that combines clear language with good examples that students in Canada will be able to relate to. Furthermore, the number of methods that are presented is good, and the chapters on quantitative analysis are thoroughly explained."

--Laura Stephenson, University of Western Ontario