Understanding the World through Inquiry: The Role of Research in Political Science

Olatunji Olateju
Additional contact information
Olatunji Olateju: Achievers University, Owo, Ondo, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 2025, vol. 12, issue 7, 1033-1039

Abstract: Political science research plays an essential role in shaping democratic governance by generating knowledge, guiding institutional accountability, and informing evidence-based policy-making. However, much of the discipline’s research remains conceptually abstract and detached from the urgent challenges confronting political institutions today. This study seeks to reframe political science research as a proactive tool for diagnosing institutional weaknesses and enhancing democratic resilience. The central research question explored is: How can political science research be more effectively reoriented to promote institutional accountability and address real-world governance problems? To answer this, the study reviews foundational theoretical paradigms- positivism, constructivism, critical theory, institutionalism, and behavioralism, and examines how they shape research inquiry and policy relevance. The article also draws on illustrative case examples in areas such as climate governance, electoral reform, and conflict resolution. Methodologically, the study emphasizes the strategic application of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to ensure rigorous, reliable, and context-sensitive findings. It underscores the value of methodological pluralism in capturing complex political dynamics, and the role of research in advancing transparency, civic engagement, and responsive governance.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/d ... ssue-7/1033-1039.pdf (application/pdf)
https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/artic ... n-political-science/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bjc:journl:v:12:y:2025:i:67:p:1033-1039

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation is currently edited by Dr. Renu Malsaria

More articles in International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation from International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Renu Malsaria ().