How do states with cyber capabilities differ in their approach to and utilization of cyber domain?
Unit of Analysis by country
U.S.A.
Russia
North Korea
China
Cyber attack effects of types of targets and during certain years.
Political
Military
Economical
One of more of the above
Case Studies
Stuxnet / Olympic Games cyber attack on Iranian Nuclear facilities (2010)
Russian attacks on German Parliament (2015)
North Korea Cyber-Enabled Proliferation financial attacks (2014-2020)
Operation Aurora- Chinese sponsored cyber attacks (2009)
Guideline from the Prof
Research Paper
Original research paper addressing a domestic security issue
Examples: explaining sources of threat perceptions; civil war onset, etc.
Research Question
Central question that the project is addressing
E.g., why do civil wars occur in some countries but not others?
Unit of Analysis
What is the level of analysis of the project?
E.g., country
Why is there a civil war outbreak in come countries but not others?
E.g., group
Why are some terrorist groups more violent than other terrorist groups?
E.g., individual
Why do some Americans view the rise of China as a threat, but others do not?
Variables
Dependent variable (Y): the phenomenon you are explaining
The effect
E.g., civil war onset yes/no; total number of people killed by a terrorist group
Independent variable (X): the cause
E.g., level of economic development (GDP per capita, $)
Hypothesis
Template: In a comparison of [units of analysis], those having [one value on the X] will be more likely to have [one value on the Y] than will those having [a different value on the X]
Your Argument and Alternative Arguments
Key hypothesis: the answer to the research question that your project provides
Alternative hypotheses: arguments that are present in the literature, but are incorrect, or are correct but are of more limited importance than your preferred argument
Causal Logic
E.g., in a comparison of countries, underdeveloped countries are more likely to experience civil war than rich countries
Causal logic: economic development strengthens the state. Strong states are unlikely to be challenged by insurgents.
Assumptions:
Insurgents are opportunists and not martyrs
Info about state capacity is available to insurgents
Literature Review
Describes relevant arguments already present in the literature re: your research question
Use the lit review as a building block
Motivation: your research fills a gap in the literature, or corrects an incorrect view that is established in the literature
Lit review should show why there is a need for your work
Originality
Introduce a new hypothesis/X
Study an understudied Y
Address an unresolved debate
Testing
Choose a method and justify the choice
Large n, comparative case study?
Case study: discuss and justify case selection
Identify sources of data
Large n: identify an appropriate dataset
Complete the data analysis
Social Science Research: Common Problems
Operationalization
How do you know a concept when you see it?
Measurement
Consistency, avoiding bias
Direction of causation
Does Y cause X?
E.g., does a lack of economic development cause civil war, or does civil war cause a lack of economic development?
Spuriousness
Correlation is not causation
Importance of controlling for alternative explanations
E.g., authoritarianism causes civil war onset and low economic development
Generalizability
How do we apply insights across contexts?
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