Political Analysis - Review Questions
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1. What are pos- Overgeneralization, Selective Observation, Halo effect, appeal to authority
sible problems
with non-scientif-
ic knowledge ac-
quisition?
2. What is selective focusing on information that we are interested in or that confirms our existing
observation? beliefs, while overlooking any new information
3. What is meant substituting own reasoning and responsibility for the opinion of an authority
by "appeal to au- figure
thority"?
4. What is the Scien- a standardized set of principles
tific Method? Replicability: results can be duplicated by other researchers;
Precision: concepts are well defined, so that they can be consistently measured;
Parsimony: choice of the simplest explanation that fits the evidence;
Falsifiability: inherent possibility that a theory can be proven false;
arts, music, literature, humanities, theology and law are not considered science
5. How do re- Organized skepticism in practice
searchers get Double-blind review process for scholarly articles (or books):
their studies pub- Article is sent to a journal editor
lished in a schol- Editor screens for suitability, selects reviewers, and sends article for review
arly social sci- Peer review (author does not know referees, referees do not know the author)
ence journal? Recommendation to reject, suggest changes, or accept
In case of suggested revisions, new round of peer review of the revised article
Academic reputation depends on quality and quantity of publications (often
measured through the quantity of citations)
6. What are some Astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, ...
branches of nat-
ural sciences?
, Political Analysis - Review Questions
Lerne online unter https://quizlet.com/_i5rap2
7. What are some Anthropology, economic, political science, psychology, sociology, ...
branches of so-
cial sciences?
8. To what extent Natural sciences: accurate, deterministic, independent of the researcher
are natural and Social sciences: Less accurate, Less deterministic, Often influenced by the re-
social sciences dif-searcher
ferent? Issues: Observation bias & measurement error, Lack of environmental control,
Ambiguity of findings, Disagreements on implications
9. What are the two Theories (logic): provide meaning and significance to what we observe
pillars of science? Observations (evidence): help validate or refine existing theory or construct new
theory
=> Continually moving back and forth between theory and observations
=> Over time, a theory becomes more and more refined (i.e., fits the observed
reality better)
10. How do inductive Inductive: Infer theoretical concepts and patterns from observed data
and deductive re- => Theory-building research
search differ? Deductive: Test concepts and patterns known from theory using new empirical
data
=> Theory-testing research (that is, theory-refining research)
11. What are the ma- Basic: determines or establishes fundamental facts and relationships within a
jor differences discipline or field of study.
between basic essential for the development of theory
and applied re- motivated by intellectual curiosity
search? no immediate practical utility
Applied: undertaken specifically for the purpose of obtaining information to help
resolve a
particular research issue
, Political Analysis - Review Questions
Lerne online unter https://quizlet.com/_i5rap2
answers an immediate practical problem
often applies the findings of basic research
12. Which forms of Evaluation research: sometimes called program evaluation, aims to evaluate the
applied research impact of social interventions.
exist? Action research: engages collaborators in a cycle of experience, critical reflection,
and action;
Social impact assessment: tries to assess the impacts/consequences likely to be
experienced by different social groups due to some course of action;
13. What is a needs systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or "gaps" between
assessment? current conditions and desired conditions or "wants"
14. Explain the dif- 01 Exploratory research
ferences be- Takes place where there is little or no prior knowledge of a phenomenon.
tween explorato- Attempts to gain some familiarity with the appropriate concepts and looks for
ry, descriptive patterns or ideas without any preconceived ideas or explanation.
and explanatory Gathers preliminary information that will help define the problem and suggest
research. hypotheses
Formulate problems more precisely;
Develop Hypotheses;
Establish priorities for research.
Eliminate impractical ideas;
Clarify concepts.
Examples: Literature search; Interviews; Focus groups.
02 Descriptive research
Describes a particular phenomenon, focusing upon the issue of what is happen-
ing, or how much of it has happened, rather than why it is happening.
Provide detailed, accurate picture
Locate new data
Create typology
Clarify stages or process
, Political Analysis - Review Questions
Lerne online unter https://quizlet.com/_i5rap2
Report on background or context
03 Explanatory research
This type of research explains why something happens and assesses causal
relationships between variables.
Provide evidence regarding causal relationships
Test hypothesis
Elaborate theory
Support/refute theory
Link specific situation to theory
15. What is primary Original research conducted to gather first-hand data directly from sources, for
research? example, through using research methods such as questionnaires or interviews.
Data is collected specifically for the research question at hand.
Often involves direct interaction with participants or environments.
Advantages:
Provides specific, tailored data.
Allows researchers to explore new questions or perspectives.
Allows greater control over the quality and relevance of data.
16. What are de- Independent variable:
pendent and in- is what is manipulated
dependent vari- a treatment or program or cause
ables? 'Factor'
Dependent variable:
is what is affected by the independent variable
effects or outcomes
'Measure'
17. What are advan- Advantages:
tages of under- Data on many variables/subjects with a given research budget.
taking cross-sec- Short time to get research results.
tional research? Good for exploratory research and to generate hypotheses for future research.
Lerne online unter https://quizlet.com/_i5rap2
1. What are pos- Overgeneralization, Selective Observation, Halo effect, appeal to authority
sible problems
with non-scientif-
ic knowledge ac-
quisition?
2. What is selective focusing on information that we are interested in or that confirms our existing
observation? beliefs, while overlooking any new information
3. What is meant substituting own reasoning and responsibility for the opinion of an authority
by "appeal to au- figure
thority"?
4. What is the Scien- a standardized set of principles
tific Method? Replicability: results can be duplicated by other researchers;
Precision: concepts are well defined, so that they can be consistently measured;
Parsimony: choice of the simplest explanation that fits the evidence;
Falsifiability: inherent possibility that a theory can be proven false;
arts, music, literature, humanities, theology and law are not considered science
5. How do re- Organized skepticism in practice
searchers get Double-blind review process for scholarly articles (or books):
their studies pub- Article is sent to a journal editor
lished in a schol- Editor screens for suitability, selects reviewers, and sends article for review
arly social sci- Peer review (author does not know referees, referees do not know the author)
ence journal? Recommendation to reject, suggest changes, or accept
In case of suggested revisions, new round of peer review of the revised article
Academic reputation depends on quality and quantity of publications (often
measured through the quantity of citations)
6. What are some Astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, ...
branches of nat-
ural sciences?
, Political Analysis - Review Questions
Lerne online unter https://quizlet.com/_i5rap2
7. What are some Anthropology, economic, political science, psychology, sociology, ...
branches of so-
cial sciences?
8. To what extent Natural sciences: accurate, deterministic, independent of the researcher
are natural and Social sciences: Less accurate, Less deterministic, Often influenced by the re-
social sciences dif-searcher
ferent? Issues: Observation bias & measurement error, Lack of environmental control,
Ambiguity of findings, Disagreements on implications
9. What are the two Theories (logic): provide meaning and significance to what we observe
pillars of science? Observations (evidence): help validate or refine existing theory or construct new
theory
=> Continually moving back and forth between theory and observations
=> Over time, a theory becomes more and more refined (i.e., fits the observed
reality better)
10. How do inductive Inductive: Infer theoretical concepts and patterns from observed data
and deductive re- => Theory-building research
search differ? Deductive: Test concepts and patterns known from theory using new empirical
data
=> Theory-testing research (that is, theory-refining research)
11. What are the ma- Basic: determines or establishes fundamental facts and relationships within a
jor differences discipline or field of study.
between basic essential for the development of theory
and applied re- motivated by intellectual curiosity
search? no immediate practical utility
Applied: undertaken specifically for the purpose of obtaining information to help
resolve a
particular research issue
, Political Analysis - Review Questions
Lerne online unter https://quizlet.com/_i5rap2
answers an immediate practical problem
often applies the findings of basic research
12. Which forms of Evaluation research: sometimes called program evaluation, aims to evaluate the
applied research impact of social interventions.
exist? Action research: engages collaborators in a cycle of experience, critical reflection,
and action;
Social impact assessment: tries to assess the impacts/consequences likely to be
experienced by different social groups due to some course of action;
13. What is a needs systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or "gaps" between
assessment? current conditions and desired conditions or "wants"
14. Explain the dif- 01 Exploratory research
ferences be- Takes place where there is little or no prior knowledge of a phenomenon.
tween explorato- Attempts to gain some familiarity with the appropriate concepts and looks for
ry, descriptive patterns or ideas without any preconceived ideas or explanation.
and explanatory Gathers preliminary information that will help define the problem and suggest
research. hypotheses
Formulate problems more precisely;
Develop Hypotheses;
Establish priorities for research.
Eliminate impractical ideas;
Clarify concepts.
Examples: Literature search; Interviews; Focus groups.
02 Descriptive research
Describes a particular phenomenon, focusing upon the issue of what is happen-
ing, or how much of it has happened, rather than why it is happening.
Provide detailed, accurate picture
Locate new data
Create typology
Clarify stages or process
, Political Analysis - Review Questions
Lerne online unter https://quizlet.com/_i5rap2
Report on background or context
03 Explanatory research
This type of research explains why something happens and assesses causal
relationships between variables.
Provide evidence regarding causal relationships
Test hypothesis
Elaborate theory
Support/refute theory
Link specific situation to theory
15. What is primary Original research conducted to gather first-hand data directly from sources, for
research? example, through using research methods such as questionnaires or interviews.
Data is collected specifically for the research question at hand.
Often involves direct interaction with participants or environments.
Advantages:
Provides specific, tailored data.
Allows researchers to explore new questions or perspectives.
Allows greater control over the quality and relevance of data.
16. What are de- Independent variable:
pendent and in- is what is manipulated
dependent vari- a treatment or program or cause
ables? 'Factor'
Dependent variable:
is what is affected by the independent variable
effects or outcomes
'Measure'
17. What are advan- Advantages:
tages of under- Data on many variables/subjects with a given research budget.
taking cross-sec- Short time to get research results.
tional research? Good for exploratory research and to generate hypotheses for future research.
