Key concept #1 Flashcards
How is the comparative method used?
You take only a few groups and do a historical analysis and you reach a conclusion through qualitative methods
How is the statistical method used?
You take a large amount of data from a lot of groups and you reach a conclusion through quantitative methods
How is the experimental method use?
You split up a group or find two groups that are relatively similar and then give one the stimulant and not the other.
What are the benefits and disadvantages of the comparative method
Comparative Method is good for having a deep understanding of individual cases but the issue is you cannot generalize the information.
What are the benefit and disadvantages of the statistical method?
Statistical Method is good for finding a generalized trend but the issue is that the problem of correlation vs causation.
What are the benefits and disadvantages of the experimental method?
Experimental Method is good for eliminating correlation vs causation but is very hard to execute.
What does qualitative method mean?
It involves using historical analysis, interviews, archival research.
What does quantitative method mean?
It involves using mathematical/statistical methods involving large amounts data.
What is the idea of correlation vs causation?
It is the idea that just because 2 variables correlate does not mean that one causes the other.
What is a natural experiment?
A natural experiment is when something happens in the real world and it is similar to what you are studying.
Give an example of a natural experiment
If you were studying whether democracy leads to wealth.. the split of Germany is a good example because west Germany became sort of democratic, and was wealthier than East Germany which became communist.
What is historical intuitionalism?
It is a deep historical analysis of how institutions evolved and how policies and practices influenced the outcome today
What is the idea of path dependency?
The idea of path dependency is that once a country chose a specific path it is hard to get off
What is a critical junction?
A specific moment in history where a country took a certain path and it has caused various consequences (good or bad) and that this trajectory they have chosen restricts later choices.
What is a deviant case?
It is a case that does not follow the trends.
