COGO 1.1

Empirical statements

Fact-based information from observation or experimentation

Normative statements

A value or opinion statement that cannot be proven or disproven; example: “Vladimir Putin should not have returned to become Russia’s president in 2012.”

Qualitative data

Information that is difficult to measure, including sources such as speeches, foundational documents, political cartoons, maps, and political commentaries

Quantitative data

Information based on numerical values

Correlation

Exists when there is an association between two or more variables

Causation

Difficult to determine with certainty in comparative politics because there are often numerous variables that potentially influence political policies and/or regime stability, with no way to isolate and demonstrate which variable is producing the change

Human Development Index (HDI)

A measure from the United Nations Development Programme described as “a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development,” including statistics about life expectancy, amount of schooling, and income

Gross domestic product (GDP)

The market value of goods and services produced over a certain time in a country; __ can depict the overall size of a national economy

GDP per capita

Reflects the size of the national economy in comparison with the population size

GDP growth rate

Shows the rate of national economic expansion

Gini index

Shows income inequality within a country; a __ of 100% indicates perfect inequality, whereas a __ of 0% indicates perfect equality

Freedom House scores

Scores reported by a nongovernmental organization, that ranks countries based on scores of 1–7 for political rights and civil liberties; ranks countries as Free, Partially Free, or Not Free based on these scores in political rights and civil liberties; 0 indicates Least Free and 100 indicates Most Free

Governmental transparency

The ability of citizens to access information about a government’s policy making and policy implementation to help hold officials accountable

Governmental corruption

When public officials abuse power for personal benefit

Corruption Perception Index

Scores reported by Transparency International, a non-governmental organization that assesses and ranks the perception of corruption in different countries; higher scores on this index indicate lower perceptions of corruption

The Fragile States Index

Formerly called the Failed States Index; reported by The Fund for Peace, a nongovernmental organization that assesses and ranks countries based on their potential to weaken due to conflicts and domestic turmoil; the index is comprised of 12 indicators grouped as cohesion indicators, economic indicators, political indicators, and social/cross-cutting indicators; countries scoring higher on the 120-point scale are recognized as more fragile states and more susceptible to instability than countries that score lower

Purchasing power parity

The idea that goods in one country will cost the same in another country once their exchange rate is applied