What is the role of archival research in international relations? For all the ferment around research methods and data collection in IR over recent decades, strikingly little work engages the logic, limits, and practicalities of archival research. This chapter looks to remedy this deficit. After first discussing the composition of archives themselves, the chapter outlines the potential for archival research to contribute to qualitative or quantitative scholarship by helping researchers assess variables, evaluate causal mechanisms, and uncover unexpected variation. From there, it discusses potential biases embedded within archival research and reviews potential methods for addressing such biases. The chapter then concludes by detailing practical steps - from gaining access to an archive to arranging a trip and organizing files - researchers need to be prepare for when undertaking archival work.
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Show ItemsFront Matter
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Show ItemsPart I: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: SCOPE AND METHODS
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Show ItemsPart II: APPROACHES: EXPLAINING INTERACTIONS
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Show ItemsPart III: GETTING STARTED WITH RESEARCH: CONCEPTS, DATA, AND TECHNIQUES
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Part IV: RESEARCH TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS
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Show ItemsPart V: EVALUATION AND RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH RESULTS
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Show ItemsBack Matter
