1.1 The Practice of Political Scientists

Empirical Statements

Fact-based information from observation or experimentation

Normative Statements

Value or opinion statements that cannot be proven or disproven

Qualitative Data

Information that is difficult to measure (speeches, foundational documents, political cartoons, maps, and political commentaries)

Quantitative Data

Information based on numerical values

Correlation

Association between two or more variables

Causation

Difficult to determine with certainty in COGO due to numerous factors that influence political policy/regime stability

Human Development Index (HDI)

U.N. Development Program as a summary measure of average human achievement in key dimensions of human development (life expectancy, schooling, income)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Market value of goods and services produced over a certain time in a country (national economy)

GDP per Capita

Size of national economy in comparison with population size (GDP/population)

GDP growth rate

Rate of national economic expansion

Gini Index

Shows income inequality within a country (0% - 100%) (higher is greater inequality)

Freedom House Scores

Ranks countries based on scores for political rights and civil liberties. Countries can be Free, Partly Free, or Not Free based on scores (0 least free to 100 most free)

Governmental Transparency

Ability of citizens to access information about government policy making/implementation to hold officials accountable

Governmental Corruption

When public officials abuse power for personal benefit

Corruption Perception Index

Scores reported by Transparency International that assess and ranks perception of corruption in different countries (higher scores = lower corruption perception)

The Fragile States Index

Reported by The Fund for Peace that assesses and ranks countries based on their potential to weaken due to conflicts and domestic turmoil. 12 indicators grouped as cohesion, economic, political, and social/cross-cutting. (Higher on 120-point scale = more fragile)

Purchasing Power Parity

Idea that goods in one country will cost the same in another country, once exchange rate is applied