POL222 Exam

Qualitative Analysis

In-depth study of a few cases such as historical accounts or interviews.

Quantitative Analysis

Statistical methods used to study large datasets.

Selection Bias

The distortion of data results from non-random sampling.

Causal Theory

A framework explaining causal relationships among variables.

Empirical Analysis

The process of collecting and analyzing data to validate hypotheses.

Forecasting

Predicting outcomes like election results or economic trends.

Public Opinion Surveys

Tools used to measure public ideology and democracy.

Confounding Variables

Factors that influence both the dependent and independent variables.

Reverse Causality

The difficulty in determining the direction of causal relationships.

Omitted Variable Bias

Excluding confounders that leads to misleading conclusions.

Spurious Relationships

False associations that disappear when controlling for confounders.

Causal Inference Challenges

Issues that arise when trying to determine causal relationships.

Overestimation in Causal Analysis

When the effect seems stronger than it actually is due to confounders.

Underestimation in Causal Analysis

When the effect seems weaker than it actually is due to unaccounted confounders.

Sign Reversal

The effect appears in the opposite direction due to confounding factors.

Random Assignment

A method to balance confounders across experimental groups.

Controlled Environment

An experimental setting that isolates independent variable effects.

Political Science Experimentation

Challenges in replicating real-world complexity in experiments.

Internal Validity

Confidence in the causal relationships established within an experiment.

External Validity

The extent to which experimental results are generalizable to real-world scenarios.

Representative Sampling

Randomly selected participants allowing generalization to the population.

Non-Representative Sampling

Convenience sampling that does not allow for generalization.

Survey Experiments

Experimental approach to survey questions treating them as stimuli.

Ethical Considerations in Research

Ensuring participants are informed and not harmed during studies.

Observational Studies

Research using real-world data when random assignment is not feasible.

Conditioning in Research

Comparing outcomes under different values of an independent variable.

Linear Regression Analysis

A statistical method for modeling the relationship between variables.

Simple Regression

Analysis examining the relationship between one dependent and one independent variable.

Multiple Regression

Analysis that accounts for multiple independent variables and confounders.

Coefficients in Regression

Values indicating the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable.

Natural Experiments

Studies exploiting naturally occurring variations that resemble random assignment.

Validity of Observational Research

Internal validity may be weaker than experiments but has stronger external validity.

Causal Relationships

Connections between variables where one influences another.

Advanced Modeling

Statistical techniques used to account for confounders in analysis.

Voter Preferences

Decisions or inclinations of voters based on various influencing factors.

Economic Voting

The phenomenon where voters’ preferences are influenced by the state of the economy.

Testing Hypotheses

The process of making predictions and verifying them with empirical data.

Democratization Studies

Research into the processes through which countries transition to democratic governance.

Predictive Models

Statistical models used to forecast future events or outcomes based on historical data.

Survey Design

The structure and methodology used to create effective surveys.

Political Ads Experiment

Testing the impact of different types of political advertising on voter behavior.