PSC 202 Test 1

Subfields of Political Science

Domestic (American) Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Policy and Administration, Political Theory

Domestic Politics

The study of political behavior and institutions of a particular country.

Comparative Politics

The study and comparison of political processes across countries.

International Relations

The study of interactions among the worlds governments and nonstate actors, such as MNCs, Ios, and individuals.

Public Policy and Administration

The study of how policies are created and implemented.

Political Theory

The study of politics, concepts, and the historical record of political thought.

3 Goals of Political Science Research

Describe, Explain, Predict

Describe

To systematically summarize patterns in the political world.

Explain

To identify causes and mechanisms.

Predict

To forecast future outcomes.

Multi-finality

A single risk factor of starting condition leads to a wide array of different outcomes or developmental trajectories. One cause > multiple outcomes.

Equifinality

Various initial conditions, risk factors, or developmental pathways converge to produce a similar result. Multiple causes > one outcome.

Multi-causality

A single event, phenomenon, or outcome is the result of several interacting and interconnected factors rather than a single cause. Multiple factors > Results more likely.

Empirical Research

Ask about how the world is, or how the world does work. Guided by scientific evidence and/or experiment, that it uses real world evidence in examining its claims.

Normative Research

Ask how things should be or what policies are best.

A question is researchable if...

It can be answered by conducting research.

A question is researchable if...

It can be directly answered.

A question is researchable if...

It is narrower than the broader question.

A question is researchable if...

It engages in the direct measurement of something or specific observation in a particular temporal and/or spatial setting.

To create a researchable question...

Take your broad question and narrow it by geography, time period, and particular group, subtopic, specific issue, or specific aspect.

Each concept in the broad question must...

Be defined specifically enough to allow us to observe or measure them.

Common mistake of research questions...

Begs another question.

Common mistake of research questions...

Presents false dichotomy/divison.

Common mistake of research questions...

Asks about fictional events (counterfactual).

Common mistake of research questions...

Is metaphysical.

Common mistake of research questions...

Is tautology.

Types of Questions

Descriptive, explanatory, predictive, prescriptive, normative.

Descriptive Questions

Concerned with the characteristics of what has happened, what is happening, what exists, or how it behaves. Who, what, when, where, which? Answers describe the characteristics of something.

Explanatory Questions

Explores the causes of something that exists or is happening. Why? What accounts for this? What is causing? Answers explain what factors or conditions are causally connected to a known outcome.

Predictive Questions

Concerned with the likely effect of something or the trajectory of existing trends. What will happen if his happens? What will be the effect of this? Answers predict what outcome will occur because of a set of known factors or conditions.

Prescriptive Questions

Ask about what can be done to bring about some outcome. How? What steps could be done? What can be done? Which would do what? Best means to an end. Answers say what should be done to prevent something from happening or to bring something about.

Normative Questions

Ask what is best, just, right, or preferable and what should be done (or not done) to bring about (or prevent it). Which ends are worth finding means to? Answers judge between understanding of what should be done and how to take a stance.

Abstract

Summary of the major aspect of the entire paper. Usually one paragraph of 300 words or less.

Abstracts usually follow this order

Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion

Abstract Introduction

The goal of the study.

Abstract Methods

Basic study design.

Abstract Results

Summary of major findings.

Abstract Discussion

Interpretation of findings.

Introduction

Leads the reader from a general subject area to a particular topic of inquiry.

An introduction should answer these questions

What is the author studying? Why is the topic important to investigate? What is known about this topic before this research? How will this study advance new knowledge or new ways of understanding?

Literature Review

Provide a description, summary, and critical evaluation of prior research relevant to the research problem being investigated. Takes the reader from the top of the research base to the bottom.

Literature reviews serve a dual function, what is the first function?

Demonstrates that your research question has not been definitively answered yet.

Literature reviews serve a dual function, what is the second function?

Sets the ground for your argument.

Theory

A reasoned and precise speculation about the answer to a research question, including a statement about why the proposed answer is correct.

How is a theory different from a hypothesis?

Theories are about concepts: abstract ideas; Hypotheses are about observable indicators: measurable characteristics.

What are the different kinds of hypotheses?

Directional hypotheses, Hypotheses of no relationship, Relative hypotheses, Conditional Hypotheses, Deterministic hypotheses

Directional Hypotheses

Predict increases or decreases in a DV as a function of increases in one or more IVs.

Hypotheses of No Relationship (Null)

Claim that one or more IVs has no (usually statistically) discernible effect on another; implies that the coefficient is not statistically significant.

Relative Hypotheses

Claim comparing the magnitude of effect of two or more IVs.

Conditional Hypotheses

Claim that the effect of one IV is dependent (conditional) on the effect of another IV.

Deterministic Hypotheses

Class of hypotheses arguing that a particular relationship should hold across all cases; includes primary hypotheses of necessity, sufficiency, and necessity.

What are the 3 types of measurement

Nominal, Ordinal, Interval-Radio

Nominal level of measurement

Categories, no rank or order, just non-overlapping groups or features. Religions, geographic regions, favorite team, states, etc.

Ordinal level of measurement

Ranked categories, can be arranged into a less-to-more or more-to-less spectrum that makes sense. Likert scale strongly disapprove - strongly approve.

Interval-Radio level of measurement

Continuous things with units. Days, votes, dollars, etc.

3 Stages of writing a literature review

Outlining, Summarizing the literature, Preparing for your argument

Outlining

Writing about the key aspects of what you're writing about. After you read a source, place what you want to take from it under the corresponding key aspect.

Summarizing the Literature

Taking the information learned and summarizing it for your reader. Every source you read is not needed to be used.

Literature Reviews have 3 main parts

Introduction, body, conclusion

Literature Review Introduction

What is the topic? How will the rest of the review be organized?

Literature Review Body

The actual review of your sources.

Literature Review Conclusion

Make the case for your research.

Literature Reviews often use...

Subheadings or are divided into multiple sections.

How can literature reviews be organized?

Topic or issue, relevance to your research question, the type of research employed, chronology of publication dates (generally not recommended), and by chronology of trends.

Preparing for your Argument

In the process of summarizing and analyzing the existing literature you have to consider its strengths and weaknesses. What still has to be done? Now you have to introduce your research question and explain how it fits in the existing literature and how it can "fill the gaps".

Independent Variables (Cause)

The presumed causes or predictors - factors manipulated or observed to see their impact.

Dependent Variables (Outcomes)

The outcomes or phenomena that researchers aim to explain, measure, and predict.

Concepts

Abstract ideas or mental images that cannot be directly measured.

Variables

Operationalized measurable properties or indicators of those concepts that take on different values.

When to cite a source?

Direct quotes of more than two words, paraphrasing or summarizing, information unfamiliar to your reader, and whenever you're not sure.

Citation styles in Political Science

Chicago, American Political Science Association (APSA), and American Psychological Association (APA)