Qualitative research in political science

The chapter argues for the ongoing importance and contribution of qualitative methods for generating data and analysis in political science. It provides a selective overview of methods used to analyse qualitatively generated data. We also argue that the collection of data and subsequent analysis in qualitative methods is a dynamic field in political science. We highlight several new and emerging qualitative research strategies that have been adopted in our field in recent years, partly as a way of capturing recent developments and changes in contemporary practices of politics itself. These include changes such as the rise of digital technologies which have significantly shaped the way politics is enacted and the rising awareness about the politics of knowledge production in our field. We conclude by reflecting on the bright future of qualitative methods in political science research.