POL 301/401: Research Methodology in Political Science Flashcards

These vocabulary flashcards provide key terms and definitions from the POL 301/401 lecture notes on Political Science Research Methodology, covering philosophical approaches, research designs, variables, measurement scales, and data analysis techniques.

Politics

The subject matter of political science, specifically referring to the study of the distribution and exercise of power.

Science

The method or the "how" of research, referring to the systematic way of investigating political phenomena to separate academic study from journalism.

Research

A systematic inquiry whose objective is to provide information to solve problems, described as goal-orientated, inquisitive, methodical, and original.

Traditionalists

A methodological approach in political science that is historical, normative, and descriptive, emphasizing the interpretation of political actions through logic.

Behaviouralists

Researchers who apply the positivistic method to political phenomena, emphasizing observation, verification, measurement, and theory-building.

Marxists

Scholars who adopt the method of historical-materialism, identifying economic determinism as the primary driver of political actions.

Basic Research

Fact-finding research that explores a situation to answer "what is" or "what are" the factors affecting a study.

Applied Research

Research that explains or exposes a situation to understand "why" certain events, situations, or phenomena occur.

Positivism

A research philosophy adopted from natural sciences where the social world is viewed objectively and research is considered value-free.

Interpretivism

A philosophy arguing that the social world is socially constructed and requiring researchers to explore subjective meanings rather than just objective facts.

Realism

A research philosophy that accepts an independent reality while acknowledging that human behavior is influenced by both internal subjectivity and external social forces.

Ontology

A branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of being and the specific assumptions about what can be known in the world.

Epistemology

The theory of knowledge, addressing the degree of certainty of claims and the extent to which knowledge can be generalized.

Methodology

The study of the principles and theories that guide the choice of specific research methods and analytical strategies.

Theory

A set of systematically inter-related concepts, definitions, and propositions advanced to explain and predict phenomena.

Construct

A concept or idea deliberately invented for a specific scientific purpose, often used when an image is not directly subject to observation.

Variable

A symbol or concept to which numerical values or attributes are assigned, representing a property that Study can vary.

Independent Variable ($X$)

The presumed cause or antecedent factor in a research study that influences the change in another variable.

Dependent Variable ($Y$)

The effect or outcome variable that changes concomitantly with variations in the independent variable.

Hypothesis

A tentative, conjectural statement about the relations between two or more variables that is subjected to empirical testing.

Null Hypothesis ($H_O$)

A common form of hypothesis stating that "there is no difference" or no relationship between the variables being tested.

Research Design

The blueprint or logical framework for a research inquiry, providing the strategy for collecting and analyzing data.

Triangulation

The strategy of cross-checking data by using a variety of different research methods to strengthen findings.

Nominal Scale

A level of measurement that uses numbers only as labels to partition or categorize objects into groups.

Ordinal Scale

A measurement scale that rank-orders attributes based on magnitude but does not have equal distances between them.

Interval Scale

A level of measurement where attributes are rank-ordered and have equal distances between adjacent attributes, but no absolute zero.

Ratio Scale

The highest level of measurement, possessing order, distance, and an absolute zero representing the total absence of a property.

Validity

The degree to which a measuring instrument or research design actually measures what it is purported to measure.

Reliability

The accuracy and consistency of a measuring instrument in yielding the same results under comparable conditions.

Probability Sampling

A sampling technique where every member of the population has a known and equal chance of being selected.

Non-Probability Sampling

Sampling methods, such as quota or convenience sampling, where the selection does not guarantee randomness or known probability.

Quantitative Data Analysis

The process of using statistical techniques and numerical information to describe, explain, and summarize data for decision-making.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Analytical methods focusing on talk and text, such as coding and discourse analysis, to understand the complexities of social life.

Discourse Analysis

An examination of systems of meaning and language to see how they shape social roles and influence political activity.

Mixed Method (Triangulation)

An approach that combines qualitative and quantitative techniques to obtain synergy and corroboration of sources.

Plagiarism

The unethical practice of failing to acknowledge the source of material used in research, taking credit for the work of others.

Abstract

A brief summary of a research report, typically 100 to 200 words, communicating the problem, method, results, and major conclusions.