What is the principal distinction between political philosophy and political science?
Political philosophy focuses on normative (value-based) claims about what ought to be, while political science emphasizes empirical (fact-based) claims about what is.
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What does the term 'epistemological problem' refer to in social scientific research?
The challenges of accurately knowing external reality due to limited senses and ability to absorb and retain information.
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How does confirmation bias affect social scientific research?
Confirmation bias can exacerbate the epistemological problem by leading researchers to selectively gather or interpret information that supports their pre-existing beliefs.
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What is the difference between System 1 and System 2 thinking?
System 1 is fast, intuitive, and instinctual decision making, while System 2 involves critical and comprehensive thought processes.
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What is an empirical research question?
A question that examines how the world works or analyzes types of actual events or phenomena that have occurred or are ongoing.
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What does it mean to operationalize a concept?
To break down a complex, subjective concept into simpler elements that are easier to observe and measure.
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What is a null hypothesis (H0)?
A statement that indicates no association or no effect in a statistical analysis.
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What defines a 'dependent variable' in a hypothesis?
The outcome that is being measured or tested in an experiment, influenced by the independent variable.
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What is sampling bias, and why is it significant?
Sampling bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population, leading to inaccurate conclusions.
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What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research methods?
Qualitative methods explore complex behaviors and experiences, while quantitative methods analyze numerical data and statistics.
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What did Karl Popper argue distinguishes science from pseudo-science?
The possibility of falsifying hypotheses; authentic science must be testable and capable of being proven wrong.
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What is the significance of 'Area Specialists' in political research?
Researchers focusing on depth over breadth of knowledge about a specific area, gaining insights through educated intuition.
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What is the concept of 'collective action problems'?
Dilemmas faced by groups in which individual rational behavior can lead to collective sub-optimal outcomes.
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What are descriptive statistics?
Statistics that summarize and describe the main features of a dataset, providing a simple overview of the sample and measures.
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What do positive and negative correlations between two variables indicate?
Positive correlation means both variables increase or decrease together, whereas negative correlation indicates one variable increases while the other decreases.
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What is the purpose of a 'most similar systems' design in case studies?
To compare cases that are similar in many respects except for the independent variable being studied, allowing for stronger causal inferences.
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What is the definition of induction in research?
The process of creating a theory based on observed patterns and specific instances.
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How did Karl Marx’s theory exemplify Popper's views on falsifiability?
Marx's theory predicted conditions that could be falsified through observable outcomes, turning it into a genuine scientific hypothesis.
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What is ethnography?
A qualitative research method focused on the systematic study of people and cultures through direct observation and participation.
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