Text Ch.3 Flashcards

1
Q
  1. Applied Research

2. Basic Research

A
  1. research directed at finding answers to specific problems with immediate practical usage
    ex: cost-benefit analysis, social impact assessment
  • maximize efficiency and effectiveness in short term
  • indicates how things are but not why they are
  1. aims to broaden our understanding of political life, seeking to advance general knowledge, basic researchers examineing theories about politics and attempt to formulate explanations and generalizations by empirically testing hypotheis
    - Royal Commmision on Aboriginal Peoples is an ex of combined applied and basic research
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2
Q

theory

hypothesis

proposition

A

identifies a general pattern of behaviour, from which we can both make predictions and empirically test relevant hypotheses

are statements of the relationships between concepts or, more specifically, are proposed explanations for an observable phenomenon

a statement expressing the truth of falseness of a situation
ex: if the hypothsis is true, the following predicate of a subject is either false or true

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3
Q

concept

causality vs correlation

A

is a defined term that enables us to organize and classify phenomena

  • can be concrete like age, or abstract like equality
    ex: politician, region, discrimination, power..

the relationship between two events, in which one is consequence of the other(ie. a cause and affect relationship)
-when the change in one of the variables leads to change in the other
vs.
correlation is when a change in one occurs when there is a change in the other

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4
Q

you classify concepts based on ______ on a ______

A

variables, continuum

  • variables ordered or ranked
  • ex: Left-right spectrum of political ideology
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5
Q

means of classifying concepts:

A
  1. continuum(left-right)
  2. ideal type: compare against one ideal
  3. typology-using new concepts formed between to concepts to describe relationship
    ex: aristotles typology of regimes= monarchy, tyranny, aristrocracy, etc.
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6
Q

Positive Correlation vs. Negative correlation

A

occurs when an increase in value in one concepts is accompanied by an increase in value in the other concept. same situation but with decrease in both is same

negative does not mean that there is no relationship between the two variables, but that the direction of change is inverse

-a decrease in one and an increase in another

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7
Q

How to develop a theory?2 ways

A

Inductive: approaches move from data to theory-we begin by observing the world and develop generalizations and conclusions from our observations

  • involves the progression from empirical evidence to generalizations
  • often exploratory
    ex: Alexis de Tocqueville’s democracy in America saying political equality leads to bad leadership
  • observation to generalization

Deductive: begin with specific assumptions, or hypothesis, and set out to test them in the real world

  • often refered to as “hypothesis-testing”
  • general to specific(opposite of inductive)

-both inductive and deductive play off eachother
.notice a pattern in society and make broad generalizations(inductive)
.then test hypothesis desrived from the theory(deductive)
.then data collection from deductive may led to new theories(inductive)
.new hypothesis(deductive)

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8
Q

alternative hypothesis

A

the statement of a possible causal relationship in contrast to another statement, often the research hypothesis; can be helpful in assessing the relative magnitude of the relationship in the research hypothesis

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9
Q

hypothesis testing can be seen as the gradual elimination of _____ ______

A

alternative explanations

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10
Q

4 characteristics of a hypothesis

A
  1. Relationship: it states a relationship between two variables
  2. Comparison: it states a comparison between values of the independent variable
  3. Direction: it states the direction of the relationship if possible
  4. Testability: it is empirically testable
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11
Q

causality

A

the key element is the notion of agency-it is because of the action of the causal variable that the outcome variable exists in its current state

  • temporal order helps us understand which caused the other
  • reacting variable is dependent on preceding event(cause)
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12
Q

the dependent variable is the _______/______ (influenced or influencing) variable

A

influenced

independent variable= cause
-its values are independent of the dependent variable

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13
Q

Causal Relationships and Causal Models

Bivariate

Multivariate

Spurious

A

causal models help us visualize the relationships between variables

=relationships between a single independent variable and the dependent variable
-two variables being considered

=causal relationships involve more then one independent variable

=when a relationship between two variables can be accounted for by a third variable

  • if the relationship between A and B ceases when C is removed then it is spurious
  • C is a control variable
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14
Q

Errors in causal reasoning

A
  1. Spurious Relationship not causal
  2. temporal order does not imply causality
    - just because variable A comes before B does not mean it is the cause
  3. Ecological Fallacy-the assumption that group-level patterns imply individual-level patterns
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15
Q

intervening variables

A

is one that comes between an independent and a dependent variable, but the direction of causality flows from independent variable to the intervening variable to the dependent variable
-the original independent variable in important because it causes variation in the dependent variable, whereas in a spurious relationship the initial independent variable is not important because its effect on the dependent variable dissapears

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16
Q

Reinforcing Variable

A

can strengthen and magnify the relationship between an independent and dependent variable

17
Q

Multiple Independent Variables

A

causal relationships in which a number of independent variables can have an effect of a dependent variable
-an assumption is made that of independence between the causal or independent variables

18
Q

Foundation of Knowledge(3)

A
  1. Ontology
    - What is out there to know?
  2. Epistemology
    - what can we (hope to) know about it?
  3. Methodology
    - How can we go about acquiring that knowledge?
19
Q

Foundation of Knowledge(3)

A
  1. Ontology
    - What is out there to know?
    - what is the nature of reality, socially constructed or ‘out there’
    - Objectivism or Constructivism

2.Epistemology
-what can we (hope to) know about it?
-– Do (can, should) we acquire knowledge through reasoning?
– Do (can, should) we acquire knowledge through observation?
• Whose observation?

  1. Methodology
    - How can we go about acquiring that knowledge?
20
Q

Ontology: 2 positions

A
  1. Objectivism: phenomena are real; there is one true reality; meaning of reality independent of observer (e.g., culture, time)
  2. Constructivism: phenomena are constructed; there are multiple realities; meaning of reality dependent on observer (e.g., culture, time)
21
Q

Epistemology: 2 positions

A
  1. Positivism: scientific approach (observation) is the best way to gain knowledge.
    - objective view
  2. Interpretivism: need to understand phenomena from perspective of those involved
    - knowledge through subjective perspectives
22
Q

Ontology,Epistemology, and Methodology:

Ontological Position: Ontological Position:
___________ ___________
Epistemological Position: Epistemological Position:
_______________ _________
Methodological Position: Methodological Position:
Quantitative Qualitative

A

Objectivism, Constructivism

Positivism, Interpretivism

23
Q

Ontology,Epistemology, and Methodology:

Ontological Position: Ontological Position:
________ __________
Epistemological Position: Epistemological Position:
Positivism Interpretivism

Methodological Position: Methodological Position:
__________ _________

A

Quantitative, Qualitative

Objectivism, Constructivism

24
Q

Ontology,Epistemology, and Methodology:

Ontological Position: Ontological Position:
Objectivism Constructivism

Epistemological Position: Epistemological Position:
____________ ____________ Methodological Position: Methodological Position:
____________ ____________

A

Positivism, Interpretivism

Quantitative,Qualitative

25
Q

Why use quantitative vs. Qualitative for research approach?

  1. Quantitative: Study of differences in _______
  2. Qualitative: Study of differences in _________
A

Quantitiative: Study of differences in degree

  • Want to know how many/much/often
  • Spurious?
  • frequencies and tendencies
  • test hypothesis
  • theory testing
  • usually use Large ‘N’

Qualitative: Study of differences in kind

  • Want to know Why and How
  • under what conditions?
  • norms and values
  • address questions
  • theory building
  • generally use Small ‘n’
26
Q

Key Differences in Methods between Quantitative and Qualitative

A
1.Numerical data
.variables operationalized before research
.mathematical data analysis
-data presented in graphs,statistics
-probability
-does it make sense statistically
2.Non-numerical data
.Themes emerge during/after research
.conceptual data analysis
.data presented in words
-plausibility
-does it make sense in the real world?
27
Q

Flying Elephants, Ontology, and Epistemology ex:
-What kind of info would we need to know for:

  1. Constructivist/Interpretivist
  2. Objectivist/Positivist
A

1.Constructivist/Interpretivist: want perspective of each party involved on conflict, why it is occurring and why or why not they would want to, talking to farmers about possible supernatural beliefs(why elephants are possibly a symbol), bring all groups to look at the crops and get their opinions
-Talk to all parties-what happened and meaning of, other groups, cultural context, language, beliefs, symbolism, Bill’s position
CONTEXT BEHIND THE IDEA THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED

2.Objectivist/Positivist:investigate and convict one party
-Look for prints, tracking data, additional tracking sources, history of conflict between groups, predominant view,PROOF
PROOF THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED

28
Q

Define Spurious and operationalized

A

Spurious: Seems to be caused by one thing but is actually caused by something else

Operationalize: express or define (something) in terms of the operations used to determine or prove it

29
Q

Why and why not used a Mixed Method Approach?

What is a mixed method approach?

A

Mixed Method Approaches:
.Why would you do that
-a more comprehensive/well rounded view(how and why it happened)
.Why would you not do that
-cultural barriers(practicality reasons), difficult of presenting data

Mixed method approach uses both quantitiative and qualitative approach