HOW TO WRITE CONCEPTUAL PAPERS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: a practical guide for students

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of figures -- Preface -- Part I: Conceptual generalization -- Chapter 1: Conceptual generalizations -- 1.1 What is a conceptual model? -- 1.2 How can we develop a conceptual model? -- 1.2.1 Various conceptual models -- 1.2.2 Case studies -- 1.2.3 Empirical causal models -- 1.2.3.1 Generalization -- 1.2.3.2 Association -- 1.2.3.3 Attribution -- 1.3 A typology and strategy for the development of conceptual models -- 1.4 A strategy for the development of a conceptual model -- Concluding comments -- Practical implications -- Theoretical implications -- Part II: How to write a winning conceptual thesis -- Chapter 2: General considerations -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Driving forces in the research process -- 2.3 Knowledge development -- 2.4 The study wheel -- Concluding comments -- Exercises -- Notes -- Chapter 3: Research problems and questions -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Thorough preparation is half the solution -- 3.3 Problems -- 3.4 Problem system -- Concluding comments -- Exercises -- Chapter 4: Analysis of the research problem -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 The start of the process of asking questions -- 4.3 Problem relationships -- 4.4 Problem solutions -- Concluding comments -- Exercises -- Chapter 5: Our mental tools -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Constructs -- 5.2.1 Concepts -- 5.2.2 Propositions and theories -- 5.3 Use of constructs in research -- Concluding comments -- Exercises -- Chapter 6: Suggestions for developing research strategies -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 The first step in a research strategy -- 6.3 What is a scientific method? -- 6.4 The different approaches to research -- Concluding comments -- Exercises -- Note -- Chapter 7: The main types of errors -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Problem formulation -- 7.3 Models -- 7.4 Analysis -- 7.5 Synthesis.

"This book is a practical guide on how to write conceptual papers and use conceptual generalization as a research methodology. Divided into two parts, the book first focuses on the scientific foundation for conceptual generalization, to identify what is a conceptual model and how conceptual models can be developed. Part two focuses on how to write a winning conceptual thesis, covering conceptual generalisation and empirical generalisation, and discusses research problems and questions, and how to analyse them. The authors cover different conceptual and analytical models to offer students a multitude of tools to visualize, interpret and uncover relationships and patterns. For example, they explore the thought experiment, analytical models, empirical causal models, analytical forms and data mining models, and outline a strategy for developing conceptual models to assist with students who wish to design their own conceptual paper. Students gain a clear understanding of the driving forces in the research process, how to define a research problem, how to analysis the problem and develop research strategies. Moving from concepts to hypotheses, the book also covers the main types of errors that may be encountered as students learn about understanding the development of models and how to develop a theory. Also including a checklist for students, and a list of definitions and concepts, this is the ideal resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, and researchers, in the social sciences"--