analyzing poltics one

multiple/comparative

(case study types) more than one case

explanatory

(case study types) start with a theory, apply to a case

deviant

(case study types) study a case that does not fit existing theory

descriptive

(case study types) study one thing, little generalizing

exploratory

(case study types) when little is known already

empirical

(characteristic of scientific knowledge) and subject to empirical verification: a statement must be proved true by means of objective observation. observations and experiences can substantiate claims being made

non-normative

(characteristic of scientific knowledge) knowledge that is concerned with factual or objective determinations. normative, on the other hand, is value-laden, evaluative, and concerned with what ought to be known

falsifiability

(characteristic of scientific knowledge) the statements or hypotheses can in principle be rejected in the face of contravening empirical evidence

distinguish

(good literature reviews) distinguish your work from the work of others by giving readers a context in which to understand your work; the relationship between your work at "the literature" can take many forms

extend

(good literature reviews) extend the work of others

identify

(good literature reviews) identify important existing research on your topic or closely related topics

reexamine

(good literature reviews) reexamine someone else's work that doesn't seem right

reject

(good literature reviews) reject the work of others and start over

summarize

(good literature reviews) summarize the critical points of existing research (only the points relevant to your topic)

synthesize

(good literature reviews) synthesize other work into something new

replicate

(good literature reviews) you can replicate someone else's work

negative directional hypothesis

(inverse) a relationship in which the values of one variable increase as the values of another variable decrease

interval

(levels of measurement) a measure for which a one-unit difference in scores is the same throughout the range of the measure

nominal

(levels of measurement) a measure for which different scores represent different, but not ordered, categories

ratio

(levels of measurement) a measure for which the scores possess the full mathematical properties of the numbers assigned (a meaningful zero possible)

ordinal

(levels of measurement) a measure for which the scores represent ordered categories that are not necessarily equidistant from each other

summation index

(levels of measurement, multi-item measures) a multi-item measure in which individual scores on a set of items are combined to form a summary measure

guttman scale

(levels of measurement, multi-item measures) a multi-item measure in which respondents are presented with increasingly difficult measures of approval for an attitude

likert scale

(levels of measurement, multi-item measures) a multi-item measure in which the items are selected based on their ability to discriminate between those scoring high and those scoring low on the measure

theory

a body of statements that systematize knowledge of, and explain, phenomena. they help organize and coordinate existing knowledge in a unified explanatory framework

causal relationship

a connection between two entities that occurs because one produces, or brings aboutm the other with complete or great regularity

panel study

a cross-sectional study in which measurements of variables are taken on the same units of analysis at multiple points in time

experimental group

a group of subjects who receive the experimental treatment or test stimulus

directional hypothesis

a hypothesis that specifies the expected relationship between two or more variables

arrow diagram

a pictorial representation of a researchers explanatory scheme

research design

a plan specifying how the researcher intends to fulfill the goals of the study; a logical plan for testing hypotheses

spurious relationship

a relationship between two variable caused entirely by the impact of a third variable

positive directional hypothesis

a relationship in which the values of one variable increase as the values of another variable increase

non-experimental design

a research design characterized by at least one of the following: presence of a single group, lack of researcher control over the assignment of subjects to control and experimental groups, lack of researcher control over application of the independent, or inability of the researcher to measure the dependent variable before and after exposure to the independent variable occurs

cross-sectional design

a research design in which measurements of independent and dependent variables are taken at the same time; naturally occuring differences in the independent variable are used to create quasi-experimental and quasi-control groups; extraneous factors are controlled for by statistical means

simulation

a simple representation of a system by a device in order to study its behaviro

intervening variable

a variable coming between an independent and dependent variable in an explanatory scheme

peaceful coexistence

although deep differences remain, the field of political science entered a period of truce beginning in the early 1980s. Although the discipline continues to be divided by empiricism versus interpretative and constructionist schools, the sides seem to live in relative harmony

classical experimental design

an experiment with the random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups with a pre-test and post-test for both groups

repeated measurement design

an experimental design in which the dependent variable is measured at multiple times after the treatment is administered

antecedent variable

an independent variable that precedes the other independent variables in time

general

applicable to many rather than just a few cases

deduction

applying logic to guarantee the truthfulness of a proposition. a valid deductive argument is one in which, if the premises are true, the conclusion must necessarily be true as well.

null hypothesis

asserts no relationship between x and y

cumulative

both the substantive findings and research techniques are built upon the results of prior studies

approach to writing literature review

demonstrate how the research adds to the already-established data/research

experimental effect

effect, usually measured numerically, of the independent variable on the dependent variable

multigroup design

experimental design with more than one control and experimental group

field experiment

experimental designs applied in a natural setting

approach to writing literature review

focus the review on concepts and ideas rather than individual books, authors, or articles.

traditional political science

grew out of the study of law, institutions, and ethics. emphasized historical, legalistic, and institutional subjects. in general, traditional political science focused on formal governments and their legally defined powers. primarily descriptive rather than explanatory. critics charged that traditional school lacked rigor and generality, not subjected to empirical verification, too descriptive, not explanatory.

parsimonious

keeping explanations as simple as possible

empirical revolution

large emergence of the scientific study of politics in the U.S. after WWII, and especially in the late 1950s. Many of the European social scientists who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1930s were skilled inthe use of new, scientific research methods. War related social research in the following decade promoted the exchange of ideas among scientifically minded persons from the disciplines of political science, sociology, psychology, and economics. US Gov turned to colleges and universities for scientific social research that would be of use in fighting the cold war.

panel mortality

loss of participants from a panel study. (from death, disinterest, or other causes

pre-test

measurement of the dependent variable prior to the administration of the experimental and control groups

transmissible

methods used in making scientific discoveries must be made explicit/transparent so that others can analyze and replicate findings

dichotomous variable

often called a "dummy" variable. it takes on only two values - for example, yes/no. allows researchers to focus on a very specific factor within their research question. a dichotomous variable can be any other type of variable!!

approach to writing literature review

organize past and present research to effectively explain how it all fits together

good literature reviews

present an account of the existing research that serves to justify the research that the author is undertaking in their paper

approach to writing literature review

provide a base of knowledge constructed on common themes and methods in similar research; this established context

assignment at random

random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups

validity

refers to the degree of correspondence between the measure and the concept it is thought to measure

empirical research

research based on actual, "objective" observation of phenomena

applied research

research designed to produce knowledge useful in altering a real-world condition or situation

causal hypothesis

some directional hypotheses are stated with enough confidence to claim that a change in X causes a change in Y

external validity

the ability to generalize from one set of research findings to other situations

internal validity

the ability to show that manipulation or variation of the independent variable actually causes the dependent variable change

relationship

the association, dependence, or covariance of the values of one variable with the values of another variable

critical theory

the belief that a proper goal of social science is to critique and change society as a whole rather than merely understand or explain it

ecological fallacy

the fallacy of deducing a false relationship between the attributes or behavior of individuals based on observing that relationship for groups to which the individuals belong

test stimulus/factor

the independent variable introduced and controlled by an investigator in order to assess its effects on a response or dependent variable.

reliability

the more consistent the results given by repeated measurements, the higher the reliability of the measuring procedure.

dependent variable

the phenomenon thought to be influenced, affected, or caused by some other phenomenon (on y axis)

independent variable

the phenomenon thought to influence, affect, or cause some other phenomenon (on x axis)

induction

the process of drawing an inference from a set of premises and observations. the premises do not guarantee the conclusion but instead lend support to it. does not rely on formal proof, but rather, gives us(more or less solid) reasons for believing in the conclusions truthfulness.

randomization

the random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups

operational definition

the rules by which a concept is measured and scores assigned

explanatory

the scientific knowledge provides a systematic, empirically verified understanding of why a phenomenon occurs

unit of analysis

the type of actor (individual, group, institution, nation) specified in a researcher's hypothesis (related to the dependent variable

correlative hypothesis

there is a relationship but cant specify any direction

small-N design

type of experimental design in which one or a few cases of a phenomenon are examined in considerable detail, typically using several data collection methods, such as personal interviews, document analysis, and observation

alternative variable

typically can be labeled as independent variables

trend analysis/time series

used to examine anything that can be tracked over time

simple post-test design

weak-type of experimental design with control and experimental groups but no pre-test