4 Writing and Publishing Your Book
evidence. She could also look at the historic development of seatbelt laws and
the public’s response to them. She could investigate the evolution of car seats
and seatbelt designs as well as the alarm systems reminding drivers to buckle
up. These questions add a narrative dimension to her study. As a result, her
project would satisfy the first two criteria for a book.
SCOPE AND CONTEXT
Scope refers to the dimensions of your project: the span of space and time as
well as the depth of your investigation. Context refers to the broader world in
which you situate a specific topic. Scope retains the focus on the same phe-
nomenon, excavating it or tracing it to diff erent locations. Context places the
phenomenon under study within or alongside other phenomena that, at first
glance, may not seem related. It’s a matter of emphasis. Are you investigating
one thing quite thoroughly, or are you examining how that thing relates to
something else? Rather than speak in the abstract, I’ll give you an example.
In her research on the leadership style of women legislators, a political
scientist gathered quantitative data on elections, the demographics of legisla-
tures, the configuration of committees, and the number and responsibilities
of legislative staffers. In addition, she conducted interviews, analyzed legisla-
tors’ speeches, and tracked the passage of a select number of bills. Although
she started the project with Southern state legislatures, she expanded her
scope to include the U.S. Congress and state legislatures in other regions. She
also developed a comparison of women’s leadership styles with that of their
male peers. Going deep, she identified patterns in leadership styles correlated
with race, party affiliation, number of years in office, and committee assign-
ments. Now she could increase her project’s appeal beyond the perimeter of
her own specialty by situating her research in a larger context. But how will
she choose the appropriate context—or contexts?
The most immediate context is the political ecosystem. Starting with the
legislature, this researcher might describe floor rules, committee selection,
and the legislative process. Moving outside the state house, she could survey
electoral systems and party politics. Her examination of the institutional con-
text would enable her to identify the leadership strategies likely to succeed in
this ecosystem. In turn, her findings would invite a broader discussion about
ways to promote diversity, civility, and cooperation within government. Politi
cal reformers will take note.
The institutional context, however, is not the only influence on legislators’
leadership styles. The data reveal other contexts. What careers did the leg-
islators pursue before they ran for office? Were they lawyers? Corporate
executives? Independent business owners? Homemakers, nurses, or school
