Chapter 1 Flashcards
Comparative politics
The study and comparison of domestic policies across countries
International relations
A field in political science that concentrates on relations between countries, such as foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid
Formal institutions
Institutions usually based on officially sanctioned rules that are relatively clear
Politics
The struggle in any group for power that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group
Power
The ability to influence others or impose one’s will on them
Comparative method
That means by which social scientists make comparisons across cases
Inductive reasoning
Research that works from case studies in order to generate hypotheses
Deductive reasoning
Research that works from a hypothesis that is then tested against data
Correlation
An apparent relationship between two or more variables
Causal relationship
Cause and effect; when a change in one variable causes a change in another variable
Multicausality
When variables are interconnected and interact to produce particular outcomes
Area studies
A regional focus when studying political science, rather than studying parts of the world where similar variables are clustered
Selection Bias
A focus on effects rather than causes, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about correlation or causation
Independent variable
A variable whose value does not depend on that of another
Dependent variable
A variable whose value changes based on that of another
Endogeneity
The issue that cause and effect are not often clear, in that variables may be both cause and effect in relationship to one another
Theory
An integrated set of hypotheses, assumptions, and facts
Modernization theory
A theory asserting that as societies developed, they would take on a set of common characteristics, including democracy and capitalism
Behavioral revolution
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
Qualitative method
Study through an in-depth investigation of a limited number of cases
Quantitative method
Study through statistical data from many cases
Rational choice
Approach that assumes that individuals weigh the costs and benefits to make choices to maximize their benefits
Game theory
An approach that emphasizes how actors or organizations behave in their goal to influence others; built upon assumptions of rational choice.
Informal institutions
Institutions with unwritten and unofficial rules
Freedom
The ability of an individual to act independently, without fear of restriction or punishment by the state or other individuals or groups in society
Equality
A material standard of living shared by individuals within a community, society, or country.
Institution
An organization or activity that is self perpetuating and valued for its own sake
