Baština (Jan 2018)
Types and characteristics of methodological researches in political sciences
Abstract
The authors put emphasis on three types of methodological research: - research of a particular method or a technique as the subject of research, - research of a subject i.e. a segment of a certain science that simultaneously uses several research methods, with subsequent intercomparison of the success of these methods, and - Research that applies to one method, is leading not only to knowledge about the subject of research, but also to knowledge about the success of this method. It is important to state the following facts: - methodological research can be classified into theoretical and empirical one, - it is not completely clear which criteria the above classification is based on, and - purely theoretical or purely empirical research does not exist because theory and empiria are inseparable, and one is essential for the survival, development, and advancement of the other. In addition, all methodological research in political science has, directly or indirectly, elements of action research. Therefore, methodological scientific research can have at least one of the following objectives: Firstly, to advance and develop methodological scientific knowledge, secondly, to verify the applicability and functionality of an already existing one. Depending on its objective, methodological research can be classified into basic and corrective research, that is diagnostic and prognostic research, but we would also like to draw attention to instrumental, and manipulative research as well.
