Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
43 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Phases of Development
|
Scope-WHAT is appropriate for study
Methods-HOW should politics be studied Objectives-What is the PURPOSE of the analysis |
|
|
Classical Period
Up to 1850 |
Scope-Normative, Focus on ends, Pursuit of Good Life, Dealt with what is (human nature, justice)
Methods-deductive (hobbes, locke) Objectives-knowledge is an end in itself, philosphers king, The Prince, knowledge should be put to use |
|
|
Institutional Period
1850-1900 |
Scope-Politics as gov't, study centered on institutions, viewed as having an impact on human behavior
Methods-Qual & Descr, reliance on documents, historical, leagalistic Objectives-greater concern on practical reform, progressive era, Change institutions will improve quality of democracy (primaries, at large districts) |
|
|
Transitional Period
1900-1925 |
Challenges:
Irony of Form-> Always be an elite few who run gov't (Iron Law of Oligarchy) Political Pluralists->multiple centers of power in any type of gov't (media, parties, lobbyists) Symbolic Interactionists->people are products of environment, focus on behavior |
|
|
Behavioral Period
1925-Present |
Scope-Authoratative allocation of values in society.
Methods-Goals are explanations and predictions, research is oriented and predicted, facts seperate from values, sophisticated methodology, focus on individuals Objectives-Knowledge is main goal, move away from PoliSci as applied science |
|
|
Post Behavioralism
|
substance much precede technique
science is NOT value free to have knowledge also means you have responsibility |
|
|
5 Major Fields of Study
|
Am. Poli
Public Admin/Public Policy International Relations Comparative Poli Political Theory |
|
|
Professional Assoc
|
American Political Science Association
Midwest PSA Inter. Studies Association |
|
|
Common Errors in Human Inquiry
|
Innaccurate Observations-> Observation is planned, systematic
Overgeneralization->Assume one event is a gen. pattern. Use large samples, random, peer review Selective Obs-> thru overgeneralization, look for that pattern only. Planned systematic observation, peer review Illogical Reasoning->something wrong with logic of hypothesis. must follow standard rules of logic Ego Involvement-> peer review, replication Premature Closing->cut off research before its fully developed. Scientific process is never ending |
|
|
2 Approaches to Science
|
Body of knowledge-> products, the ends, products as a body of statements, open to evaluation, organized in certain systematic relationships.
As a Method-> as a process, the means, following the systematic process of observing, measuring and evaluating our observations in the world |
|
|
Assumptions of Science
|
Principle of Universal Causation->nothing simply happens, there are causes of the everyday events or situations, political phenomenon don't just happen, there are causes for these events. PoliSci's want to discover these.
Scientific Statements based on observations-> Science is empirical must be based on observations, obs are made in real world, science is to be objective Scientific Inquiry is VALUE FREE->Deals with "What is", Does not focus on What ought to be, must be able to transfer knowledge, replicate procedures Scientific Inquiry is SYSTEMATIC-> Formulate empirical concepts, suggest find relationships btwn concepts, develop theories, explain and predict |
|
|
Arguments Against PoliSci
|
Complexity->no regularities can be found, no concepts, which equals no relationships, which equals no generalizations
Human Indeterminancy Argument->bcz humans have free will, we can never predict what they do. It is impossible to predict human behavior. Reaction Prob->"Hawthorne Effect" subjects may alter their behavior if they know they are being watched. |
|
|
Perceptions Involve
|
Registering something through senses
then ascribing meaning to what we have observed provide meaning means we have to INTERPRET what we see now our VALUES may influence perceptions |
|
|
Perceptual Screen
|
Selective Exposure->expose ourselves to certain kinds of information/media
Selective Attention->only attentive to certain aspects of info Selective Perception->perceive then with my views/thinking Selective Retention->retain info with my views/thinking |
|
|
What influences what we might see
|
Seeing and not seeing
past experiences the context |
|
|
Concept Formation
|
Language->Logical=connective words
=Descriptive Particular and Universal |
|
|
Categories of Defn's
|
Real->Reportive Defn's
Ordinary Use Term Assumes every descriptive word has an essential meaning Nominal->Stipulative Defn's, assignment of a word to a form, Let X=Y. Makes no empirical claim, May agree/dis with meaning. Conceptual Defn's-Defn's that descibe concepts using other concepts. The other concepts must be defined and the process regresses. Stop defining at the point of primitive terms. Downs Example. |
|
|
Conceptual Defn's
|
Exhaustive
Mutually Exclusive Not be circular Stated Positively Clear and unequal |
|
|
Function of Concepts
|
Foundation of communication
means of classification core of generalizations building blocks of theory |
|
|
Evaluating Concepts
|
Empirical Links
Linked to real world Theoretically Importance Linked to other concepts |
|
|
Types of Generalizations
|
Universal Gen
Probablistic Gen Tendency Gen |
|
|
Criteria For valid Gens
|
Concepts must be empirical
gens must be logical concepts must be universal descriptive words |
|
|
Criteria for Establishing Cause
|
Association (direction and strength)
Temporal Rel (A must occur before B in order to cause) Non-Spurious Rel (controlling for effects of 3rd variable) Logical Rel- links them together |
|
|
Causality: Sufficient Conditions
|
Factor which by itself is enough to bring about another event. but it is NOT a necessary condition.
A is a sufficient condition for B when: A occurs, B also occurs AND B might have other sufficient conditions.(pol scandal & pres reelection) |
|
|
Causality: Necessary Conditions
|
A factor ALWAYS MUST occur before another event occurs.
A is a necessary condition for B when: B occurs we know that A is present but A is not alone a sufficient condition for B |
|
|
Explanations and Predictions
|
Explanations as descriptions (explain how a bill becomes law)
Explanation is answering the why (why did some members vote for or against) |
|
|
Types of Explanations
|
Deductive-nomological
Statistical-Probablistic |
|
|
Theories and Models
|
Scientific Political Theory (empirical vs. normative)
Defn->A theory is a system of logically related empirically tested law like propositions |
|
|
Functions of Theory
|
Guides research
explanation prediction prescription |
|
|
Models and Functions
|
Analytical system constructed so that the logical relationships between the elements of the model correspond to the relationships in the observable world.
|
|
|
Basics of Approaches
|
Orientation to looking at the world in a particular way. Represents a guiding orientation for research, directs us to a set of concepts.
|
|
|
Ecological fallacy
|
where the research conducted is on a macro scale but the conclusions are drawn on a micro scale
|
|
|
Individualistic Fallacy
|
rsrch conducted on a micro
draw conclusions at macro ie-rsrch on individ id leads to concl that parties are on decline |
|
|
Bio-Politics
|
Thomas Wiegle, "Biopolitics: A search for a more human Poli Sci"
Argues that biology can influence or temper decisions we make Presidential Character |
|
|
Attitude Approach
|
LaPiere Studies
Attitudes affect behavior attitude change theory Voting behavior model |
|
|
socialization approach
|
Education, income, gender, race, age
|
|
|
Economic/Rationality Approach
|
Economic theory of Democracy by Anthony Downs
Spatial Model: to maxamize votes, voters are rational |
|
|
Small group approach: groupthink
|
Victims of Group think by Irving Janis
Antecedent conditions: decision makers constitute small groups, structural faults of org, and situational content |
|
|
Group approach
|
Governmental Process by David Truman
Interest Group Theory: The policy that emerges from the Political System will be the Equilibrium between the influence of groups. |
|
|
Power Approach
|
Pluralism: Who Governs? Robert Dahl
Power is widely distributed Many groups have power Elitism The Power Elite C. Wright Mills Power is concentrated in the hands of few Groups Economic Political Military |
|
|
Role Approach
|
The Legislative System Wahlke, Eulau, Buchanan & Ferguson
Role A status or position Occur in Pairs Expectations Multiple Roles – Role Conflict Legislative Representational Roles Trustee Delegate Politico |
|
|
System Approach
|
The Political System by David Easton
As Theory, As Organizing Framework |
|
|
Communication Approach
|
The Nerves of Government by Karl Deutsch
Very similar to Systems approach except the focus is on Communications Key Concepts Information Load Lag Distortion Gain Feedback |
