The Scientific Approach to Politics

Introductory Concepts

PowerPoint Policy: Don’t rely too much on slides.

Reminder: Attendance is Important.

Textbook materials should arrive early this week.

Research question handout will be provided next class period.

Announcements

Political “Science”: Class Comments

Empirical Research: “Research based on actual, objective observation of phenomena.” Should follow defined and accepted principles of proper

research techniques (the scientific method)

Empirical claims must be falsifiable – must be subject to refutation. (example: the theory of Karl Popper)

Normative v. empirical work.

Political Science: application of scientific methods to political phenomena.

Introductory Definitions

Social Sciences: study human/societal behavior and phenomena.

Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Anthropology, etc.

Natural Sciences: rules and laws of natural origin

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, etc.

The Social Sciences

The nature of behavior studied in social sciences is generally probabilistic in nature, not deterministic.

What do these terms mean?

Natural sciences are more likely to have “laws” that are considered deterministic.

E.g. the law of gravity.

Probabilistic v. Deterministic

Social science research involves elements of both types of reasoning (see pg. 42 of JRM)

Deductive: if premises/propositions are true, then the conclusion is true.

Remember: law v. probability

Inductive: draws inference from a set of observations/data

E.g. generalizing from a sample population.

Inductive v. Deductive Reasoning

What are some criticisms of the scientific approach?

Discussion Question

Statistics Can Lie

Ignoring the baseline: per capita v. total population.

Misrepresentation of fact.

Manufacturing data.

Selection bias and/or response bias.

E.g. Truman – Dewey election

New York Times Article (Jan. 8, 2011) – Law School Job Statistics

Statistics Can Lie (Part II)

Traditional Political Science (1930 – 1960): Emphasized historical, legalistic, philosophical, institutional

approaches.

Politics often taught in history or philosophy departments.

Descriptive rather than explanatory in nature

Empirical Revolution (1960 – Present): Behavioralism: seeks to explain and predict behavior;

involves causal relationships.

Arose from the increased use of statistical techniques, computer programs, etc.

The Behavioral Approach to Political Science: A Short History Lesson

A “large N” analysis: utilizes collections of data that involve large numbers of observations.

Mathematics and statistical methods are employed.

Can lead to conclusions about general patterns in human/political behavior.

Types of Political Science Research: Quantitative Research

A “Small N” analysis: case study approach.

Looks at few cases/observations in-depth to help explain political phenomena.

Involves field studies, intensive interviewing, direct observation, etc.

Types of Political Science Research: Qualitative Research

Quantitative: Judicial Politics and Judge Ideology Example 1: Segal and Cover Research – Judge Ideology Example 2: What causes crime?

Qualitative: School Shootings Research

“Studying Rare Events Through Qualitative Case Studies: Lessons from a Study of Rampage School Shootings.” – Harding, Fox and Metha.

Examined high school shootings in Paducah, Kentucky and Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Methods of agreement v. methods of difference

Examples

Necessary Causal Factors

Gun Availability

Cultural Script: shootings will solve a problem

Social marginalization

Susceptibility to marginalization (e.g. history of abuse)

Failure of social support systems

Examples (Part II): School Shootings Research

Qualitative v. Quantitative Research?

Discussion Question

Surveying Techniques:

E.g. election polling

Experimental Techniques:

Examine behavior using control and experimental groups.

Not used very often in political science. Why not?

Types of Political Science Research: Other Methods

The Milgram Experiment

Ethics in Research: Milgram Experiment

TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY (1932-1972)

TEAROOM TRADE (1970)

Ethics in Research: Other Controversies

Voluntary Participation

Informed Consent

Little or No Risk of Harm

Confidentiality/Privacy

Most Institutions have Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to evaluate the ethics of research.

Ethics in Research: Modern Requirements

Is the public U.S. public more willing to support the use of military forces when U.S. interests are affected than when they are not?

Are people around the world concerned about climate change?

How important is political experience of presidential candidates to voters in presidential elections?

Developing a Research Question

Is the number of bills passed by a state legislature related to whether both chambers of the are controlled by the same party?

Do states with public funding for candidates have more competitive elections than states without public funding?

Developing a Research Question