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
