Chapter 1

Question 1

Comparative politics

Answer 1

The study and comparison of domestic policies across countries

Question 2

International relations

Answer 2

A field in political science that concentrates on relations between countries, such as foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid

Question 3

Formal institutions

Answer 3

Institutions usually based on officially sanctioned rules that are relatively clear

Question 4

Politics

Answer 4

The struggle in any group for power that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group

Question 5

Power

Answer 5

The ability to influence others or impose one’s will on them

Question 6

Comparative method

Answer 6

That means by which social scientists make comparisons across cases

Question 7

Inductive reasoning

Answer 7

Research that works from case studies in order to generate hypotheses

Question 8

Deductive reasoning

Answer 8

Research that works from a hypothesis that is then tested against data

Question 9

Correlation

Answer 9

An apparent relationship between two or more variables

Question 10

Causal relationship

Answer 10

Cause and effect; when a change in one variable causes a change in another variable

Question 11

Multicausality

Answer 11

When variables are interconnected and interact to produce particular outcomes

Question 12

Area studies

Answer 12

A regional focus when studying political science, rather than studying parts of the world where similar variables are clustered

Question 13

Selection Bias

Answer 13

A focus on effects rather than causes, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about correlation or causation

Question 14

Independent variable

Answer 14

A variable whose value does not depend on that of another

Question 15

Dependent variable

Answer 15

A variable whose value changes based on that of another

Question 16

Endogeneity

Answer 16

The issue that cause and effect are not often clear, in that variables may be both cause and effect in relationship to one another

Question 17

Theory

Answer 17

An integrated set of hypotheses, assumptions, and facts

Question 18

Modernization theory

Answer 18

A theory asserting that as societies developed, they would take on a set of common characteristics, including democracy and capitalism

Question 19

Behavioral revolution

Answer 19

A moment within political science during the 1950s and 1960s to develop general theories about individual political behavior that could be applied across all countries

Question 20

Qualitative method

Answer 20

Study through an in-depth investigation of a limited number of cases

Question 21

Quantitative method

Answer 21

Study through statistical data from many cases

Question 22

Rational choice

Answer 22

Approach that assumes that individuals weigh the costs and benefits to make choices to maximize their benefits

Question 23

Game theory

Answer 23

An approach that emphasizes how actors or organizations behave in their goal to influence others; built upon assumptions of rational choice.

Question 24

Informal institutions

Answer 24

Institutions with unwritten and unofficial rules

Question 25

Freedom

Answer 25

The ability of an individual to act independently, without fear of restriction or punishment by the state or other individuals or groups in society

Question 26

Equality

Answer 26

A material standard of living shared by individuals within a community, society, or country.

Question 27

Institution

Answer 27

An organization or activity that is self perpetuating and valued for its own sake