ABSTRACT
Good research, according to a much-quoted text, should “make a specific contribution to an identifiable scholarly literature by increasing our collective ability to construct verified scientific explanations of some aspect of the world” (King, Keohane and Verba, 1994: 15). The same writers said that it is the goal of “scientific research” to make “causal inferences on the basis of empirical information” (King, Keohane and Verba, 1994: 7). Those who seek to understand and explain the occurrence, outcomes and consequences of referendums should follow the same prescription. But is there a particular format or methods that must be followed?
