Methodological challenges in developing a database for studies of political elites: the case of the Brazilian “Heads” of Congress

Abstract

The object of this research is the development of a database made up of federal deputies classified by the Intersyndical Department of Parliamentary Assistance (DIAP) from 1999 to 2020. We have presented the making process of the database and its methodological challenges, aiming: (a) to present how DIAP operationalizes the awarding of the “Heads of the Congress”; (b) to point out the inconsistencies found in the publications of the series; and (c) to show the relevance of the variables collected in this database for the understanding of political careers and the professionalization of its actors. The information has been collected through the database of the Observatory of Political and Social Elites of Brazil, the portal of the House of Representatives, and the websites of the Superior Electoral Court and DIAP. While developing the database, inconsistencies were identified in the series of the “Heads of Congress”. At times, the attribution of the outstanding categories of parliamentarians diverged within the same publication. The conceptualization and the classification process of the categories analyzed also restrict the research because they are not well delimited and explained in the document. The proposed structure allows us to understand the steps and the characteristics of a database. This mastery provides good practices in the construction and collection of information for political scientists, reducing divergences and potential problems that could compromise the result of the research.

Keywords

• database
• methodological issues
• federal deputies
• research design
• “heads” of congress