Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method
Qualitative Method
Analytical; few cases, more detailed Strengths: helps understand concepts and complexities of social world, touches on outliers and studies minorities Weaknesses: Subjective, outlier based; defense and counter-claims; intellectually demanding
Variable
Independent / Dependent
Quantitative Method
Statistical; many cases - large N, generalizable Strengths: widespread acceptance, scientific, credible, dependable, preferred by news, media, objective, bias-free Weaknesses: Unable to grasp complexities of the social world
Comparative Politics
a field of study, an approach / method used in political science, deals with empirical questions
Modernization Theory
a model of a progressive transition from a "Pre-Modern" or "Traditional" to a "Modern Society" example theory: democracy occurs in wealthy modernized developed cities
Comparative Method
a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions, used to search for cause + effect
Hypothesis
a proposed explanation for a phenomenon; an argument linking cause + effect.
Correlation
a relationship existing between phenomena or variables which tend to vary, be associated, or occur together on a way not expected on the basis of chance alone
Institution
a society or organization established for a religious, educational, social or similar purpose
Normative Theory
a theory that explains what ought to occur "ought theory" or "Idealistic Theory", deals with questions of VALUE, of what we SHOULD do or what we OUGHT to do
Theory
an abstract argument that provides a systematic explanation of some phenomenon
Empirical Theory
an empirical argument is an argument about what it is (just the way it is) "Realist Theory", deals more with questions of what IS rather than what SHOULD be
Deductive Reasoning
research that works from a hypothesis that is then tested against data
Inductive Reasoning
research that works from case studies in order to generate a hypothesis
Causal Relationship
the act of causing something, proximate; immediately responsible for causing