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The Scientific Approach to Politics
Introductory Concepts
PowerPoint Policy: Don’t rely too much on slides.
Reminder: Attendance is Important.
Textbook materials should arrive early this week.
Research question handout will be provided next class period.
Announcements
Political “Science”: Class Comments
Empirical Research: “Research based on actual, objective observation of phenomena.” Should follow defined and accepted principles of proper
research techniques (the scientific method)
Empirical claims must be falsifiable – must be subject to refutation. (example: the theory of Karl Popper)
Normative v. empirical work.
Political Science: application of scientific methods to political phenomena.
Introductory Definitions
Social Sciences: study human/societal behavior and phenomena.
Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Anthropology, etc.
Natural Sciences: rules and laws of natural origin
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, etc.
The Social Sciences
The nature of behavior studied in social sciences is generally probabilistic in nature, not deterministic.
What do these terms mean?
Natural sciences are more likely to have “laws” that are considered deterministic.
E.g. the law of gravity.
Probabilistic v. Deterministic
Social science research involves elements of both types of reasoning (see pg. 42 of JRM)
Deductive: if premises/propositions are true, then the conclusion is true.
Remember: law v. probability
Inductive: draws inference from a set of observations/data
E.g. generalizing from a sample population.
Inductive v. Deductive Reasoning
What are some criticisms of the scientific approach?
Discussion Question
Statistics Can Lie
Ignoring the baseline: per capita v. total population.
Misrepresentation of fact.
Manufacturing data.
Selection bias and/or response bias.
E.g. Truman – Dewey election
New York Times Article (Jan. 8, 2011) – Law School Job Statistics
Statistics Can Lie (Part II)
Traditional Political Science (1930 – 1960): Emphasized historical, legalistic, philosophical, institutional
approaches.
Politics often taught in history or philosophy departments.
Descriptive rather than explanatory in nature
Empirical Revolution (1960 – Present): Behavioralism: seeks to explain and predict behavior;
involves causal relationships.
Arose from the increased use of statistical techniques, computer programs, etc.
The Behavioral Approach to Political Science: A Short History Lesson
A “large N” analysis: utilizes collections of data that involve large numbers of observations.
Mathematics and statistical methods are employed.
Can lead to conclusions about general patterns in human/political behavior.
Types of Political Science Research: Quantitative Research
A “Small N” analysis: case study approach.
Looks at few cases/observations in-depth to help explain political phenomena.
Involves field studies, intensive interviewing, direct observation, etc.
Types of Political Science Research: Qualitative Research
Quantitative: Judicial Politics and Judge Ideology Example 1: Segal and Cover Research – Judge Ideology Example 2: What causes crime?
Qualitative: School Shootings Research
“Studying Rare Events Through Qualitative Case Studies: Lessons from a Study of Rampage School Shootings.” – Harding, Fox and Metha.
Examined high school shootings in Paducah, Kentucky and Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Methods of agreement v. methods of difference
Examples
Necessary Causal Factors
Gun Availability
Cultural Script: shootings will solve a problem
Social marginalization
Susceptibility to marginalization (e.g. history of abuse)
Failure of social support systems
Examples (Part II): School Shootings Research
Qualitative v. Quantitative Research?
Discussion Question
Surveying Techniques:
E.g. election polling
Experimental Techniques:
Examine behavior using control and experimental groups.
Not used very often in political science. Why not?
Types of Political Science Research: Other Methods
The Milgram Experiment
Ethics in Research: Milgram Experiment
TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY (1932-1972)
TEAROOM TRADE (1970)
Ethics in Research: Other Controversies
Voluntary Participation
Informed Consent
Little or No Risk of Harm
Confidentiality/Privacy
Most Institutions have Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to evaluate the ethics of research.
Ethics in Research: Modern Requirements
Is the public U.S. public more willing to support the use of military forces when U.S. interests are affected than when they are not?
Are people around the world concerned about climate change?
How important is political experience of presidential candidates to voters in presidential elections?
Developing a Research Question
Is the number of bills passed by a state legislature related to whether both chambers of the are controlled by the same party?
Do states with public funding for candidates have more competitive elections than states without public funding?
Developing a Research Question