Comparative Politics Questions
Mr. Eren97
methodology11.pptThe Process
- Selection of the research question
- Identification of the methodology to answer that question
- Research
- Definition, Description and Analysis
- Explanation and Prediction
Good questions
- Answer a puzzle
- Take part in a debate
- Add to the “tree of knowledge”
- For this class, they should have a comparative dimension
- “Is” versus “ought” questions
The Comparative method
(Review Ch. 1)
- Inductive reasoning
- Going from the bottom up. Using one case to develop ideas. “Why has Country X slide toward state failure?”
- Still need to test theories
- Deductive reasoning
- Going from the top down. Using logic to generate a number of explanations. “What explains democratization in Asia?”
- Still need to test theories
Finding patterns or connections
- Dependent variable Outcome
- Independent variable Cause (potential)
Q. Why did protests turn violent?
Q. What makes some democracies stable?
Correlations
- Correlations are associations or a relationship between variables
- Positive
- Negative
- Plotting the correlation shows a relationship exists but it does not necessarily explain the cause. (The “why” question)
Correlation and causation
- To show “causation” we first need to show that a correlation exists
- Correlations are necessary but not sufficient to prove causation
- Problems with spurious correlations
Hierarchy of Understanding
- World views/Frameworks
- Theories
- Generalizations, explanations and predictions
- Concepts
- Facts/Raw data
Hypothesis
- Assumptions to be tested against the evidence
- It’s your answer to the research question(s) you posed.
- Descriptive hypothesis (propose a “fact”, test to see if it exists. Need evidence to confirm)
- Democracy has broad support in Russia
- Explanatory hypothesis (seek to explain the fact)
- Russians support democracy because of their past experience with communism
Hypotheses have to be testable
- A nonfalsifiable hypothesis
- We won because God is on our side
- Fallacy of composition
- All Americans are wealthy
- Tautology
- Armed conflict caused the civil war
- Reductivism
- One cause can explain everything
- False Inference
- Infering too much from the data you have
Sources for finding hypotheses
or where do I get my argument?
- Deduction (literature, logic)
- Induction (observations, facts)
- Grounded theory generalize from cases
Both need to be tested
Methodology
- Quantitative
- Qualitative
- Comparative Politics
- Structured focused comparison
Steps in hypothesis testing
- 1. Define key terms (wealth, elite)
- 2. Identify the Variables (independent/dependent)
- 3. Specify the expectations of the hypothesis. (if….then)
- 4. Collect and examine the evidence
- 5. Draw conclusions from the evidence
Example
- Puzzle: Has the creation of European institutions and policies led to a shift toward a “European” identity in member states?
- Descriptive hypothesis…
- Explanatory hypothesis …
- Identify variables (I and D) institutions/identity
- Specify expectations
- Collect and examine evidence
- Analyze evidence
Who Governs?, Robert Dahl
- Economic power confers political power
- Tested in New Haven, CT
- Variables? (I and D)
- Expectations? (what would support/undermine the hypothesis)
- Evidence
- Conclusions: Inconsistent with the idea of a power elite and consistent with the idea of pluralism in American politics
Findings
- Consistent
- Inconsistent
- Counterintuitive
- All are interesting….
Next Steps
- Brainstorming a topic
- Initial research to formulate ideas
- Submit one paragraph concept piece (can submit more than one)
- After approval develop research proposal. (Note—the more developed the proposal, the easier it will be to write your paper)
- Structure is key
Structured Focused Comparison
- Introduction (Parts 1-6 of Proposal)
- General Background
- Case 1
- Intro, background, IVs, analysis, conclusions
- Case 2
- Same format
- Comparative Analysis ***important***
- Policy Implications (if desired)
- Conclusions
