Political Science - Social Inequality, Poverty, and the Scientific Method
Social Inequality and Political Science
Social inequality, poverty, insecurity (human insecurity, conflict, oppression) are persistent global issues.
Political science systematically studies processes, institutions, people, and behavior involved in decision-making.
Key Aspects of Political Science
Thoroughness: Examines issues with great care and completeness, avoiding hasty conclusions.
Deliberation: Consciously and intentionally seeks relationships between variables.
Objectivity: Focuses on how the world is, not how it should be, remaining unbiased by personal feelings or opinions.
The Scientific Method in Political Science
Science uses systematic observation, experiments, and tests to gain knowledge.
Political science applies the scientific method to study human behavior, institutions, and interactions, differing from hard sciences.
Facts, Ideas, and Generalizations
Facts are based on empirical evidence.
Ideas are supported by facts to understand the world.
Generalizations should be scientifically grounded to avoid stereotypes and biases.
Stereotypes are oversimplified images; biases are prejudices affecting objectivity.
Politics vs. Political Science
Politics involves people, politicians, and states pursuing policy and power, often through compromise.
It is normative, concerning what ought to be.
Political science is objective, focused on what is, pursuing knowledge.
Political scientists study politics, using the scientific method.
Chapter One Key Points
Scientific analysis of politics depends on precision and objectivity.
Empirical analysis should be broken down into well-defined parts.
Logic must be aware of fallacies; opinions are not scientific.
Science seeks to define phenomena and predict future outcomes for policy recommendations.
Studying Politics
Studying politics helps in understanding events and demystifying the world.
Political science uses the scientific method to differentiate fact from fiction through quantitative and qualitative methods.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Methods
Quantitative: Numerical, data-driven, uses statistical tests to analyze hypotheses.
Qualitative: Focuses on deep description, textual and event analysis, often using case studies.
Scientific Method Steps
Research question.
Theory based hypothesis.
Test hypothesis.
Compare results with expectations.
Draw conclusions.
Theories and Hypotheses
A theory offers a possible explanatory answer to a question.
A hypothesis is a statement describing a relationship between variables.
Variables
Variables are measurable properties.
Independent variable: the factor that causes the phenomenon.
Dependent variable: the effect.
Causation vs. Association
Causation indicates one variable directly causes another.
Association (correlation) shows a relationship between variables, but not necessarily direct causation.
Spurious correlation: When two variables are happening at the same time, but is not related.
Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
Quantitative methods use statistical and mathematical tests, relying on numbers and data.
Qualitative methods focus on deep description and textual analysis, using case studies; issue of selection bias.
Both methods provide different types of analytical leverage.
How to Conduct Research
Intuition can offer a starting point, but should be tested.
A good place to start is also an assumption.
Eliminate bias.
Research questions should be precise, examining relationships between variables; hypotheses should be specific.
Normative study of politics
Scholars using the Normative theory are concerned with the way the world ought to be.
Normative theory focuses on evaluating judgments in a society.
It debates whether or not it belongs in the political science.