Political Science 467
Political Manipulation of the News
Dr. Sellers
February 13, 2008

Paper #3

In your previous paper (#2), you reviewed previous research on your topic, with the review (hopefully!) leading to one or more hypotheses that you will explore in your own research.  For this paper, you need to propose dependent and independent variables that you will use to investigate the hypotheses. 

First, your paper needs to provide a brief description of the main empirical pattern that you will investigate, i.e., your dependent variable.  Try to describe this measure as thoroughly and clearly as possible.  Where and how will you obtain the data for the variable?  How will you process or interpret this data to create the actual measure?  What is the measure's range?  What patterns do you expect in the variable (independent of any independent variables)? 

Second, your paper needs to propose at least two independent variables that might influence your dependent variable(s).  For each independent variable, you again need describe the concept that you wish to capture, and then restate in specific terms the hypothesis linking the independent and dependent variable.  That hypothesis may be easier to understand if you phrase it in an “if-then” format.  You also need to explain how you will operationalize the independent variable.  The operationalization includes the source of data for the variable, the coding or transformation of that data into the actual measure, and a brief description of the final measure (expected range and patterns).

When writing this paper, make sure that you keep in mind how it will fit together with the other parts of your work to produce the final research paper.  Your descriptions of hypotheses and variables will be stronger if you base them in the previous research on the topic, particularly those discussed in Paper #2.  These references to previous research can help justify your research and method.  If you use a particular method or operationalization that someone else has already used, say so; the previous use (in a published outlet) suggests that this method or operationalization is acceptable.  Alternatively, if someone else has published research that you plan to go beyond, say so; improving upon existing research is another good justification for your project. 

Also, make sure that you describe your data clearly.  As suggested above, you need to describe the variables making up that data, but you also need to address other questions.  What will be the unit of observation (also called the unit of analysis)?  It should be the same for your dependent and independent variables.  How many cases or observations do you expect to have in the data set for your project?  The answer to this question may depend upon the number of days for which we collect data.  If so, assume a month (30 days) of data collection, and suggest the number of cases as accurately as possible.  Make sure that you explain how you arrived at this estimate.

You should type your paper, using 1-inch margins and a font no smaller than 10 point.  The paper can be either single- or double-spaced.  The maximum length is one page of text; when grading, I will not read any material past this one page (except citation information in a bibliography).  The paper should contain appropriate in-text citations for any sources used.  The detailed information for each citation should then appear in a bibliography on a separate page.  The paper should contain a blank cover page containing the student's name, the class, the number of the paper, and the Honor Code pledge.  The paper is due at the start of class on February 20.  Papers turned in after the middle of class will be considered late.  Paper grades are lowered by ten points (out of 100 total points) for each 24-hour period (after the start of class) that they are late.  Finally, the Honor Code binds all answers; make sure that you pledge your work.