Focusing on the decision-making process in research design, this text explores both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. It highlights the implications of design choices and the necessary trade-offs researchers face in social sciences. Through diverse examples, the authors provide insights into critical issues that influence research outcomes, equipping readers with the tools to navigate their own projects effectively.
Focusing on the comparative study of regulatory agencies, the book explores the factors influencing their de facto independence in Western Europe. It analyzes the impact of this independence on the policy-making process and examines the interaction between regulatory agencies and the news media. The author concludes with a discussion of normative questions regarding the advantages and disadvantages of such independence, providing a comprehensive perspective on the complexities of regulatory agency autonomy.
This element discusses how digital technology has shaped different domains, identifies areas of research consensus as well as unresolved questions, and argues that a key perspective involves issue definition, that is, how the nature of the problems raised by digital technology is subject to political contestation.