DOING POLITICAL SCIENCE

Politics & Science

1. What is politics?2. What is science?3. What is Political Science?

• Testable hypothesis• Systematic and rigorous research• Empirical evidence

• Observation, logic, knowledge, evidence• Replicable results¤

Subfields of Political ScienceAmerican•Institutions•Behavior•Policy•Administration•Law

Comparative•Institutions•Behavior•Policy•Development

Int’l Relations•Theory•Transnational issues•Policy•Global economy•Conflict & Security

Theory•-Isms•Time frames•Schools of thought

Hypotheses & VariablesPolitical Science•Have a theory about something•Testable hypothesis•Systematic and rigorous research•Replicable results¤

PROVE

HypothesisWhat is it?

•Suspect relationship between 2+ things

• Technically called ‘alternative hypothesis’

• Being a Republican increases the likelihood of supporting legalizing Marijuana.

• Null hypothesis is the default position

• Party affiliation does not have an impact on views on Marijuana.

•Assumption about something

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Testing HypothesisUse methodology

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

• Combo of both

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Hypothesis?

VariablesVariables = Factors in the hypothesis

• Dependent (DV)• What you’re trying to explain

• Independent (IV)• What you think explains the phenomenon

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Identify the Variables• The higher the GPA of the students in this class, the more likely they are to get an A• DV=what determines a grade• IV= GPA

• The children of smokers are more likely to smoke than those of non-smokers• DV=who smokes• IV= parental influence

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Identify the Variables• Regularly watching television cartoons and music videos negatively affects attention span.• DV=what affects attention span• IV= regularly watching cartoons; regularly watching music videos

• How does familial support influence body image in teenage girls? • DV=what influences body image• IV= familial support¤

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Identify the Variables• What is the relationship between GDP and female literacy rates?• DV= none- not a hypothesis• IV= ditto

• Happiness is increased by participating in charitable activities and identifying with a religion. • DV=what affects happiness• IV= doing charity; religious affiliation

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OperationalizationTo operationalize a definition = To provide a way to measure something

• Set limits for variables

Hypothesis: Democratic countries are less likely to go to war with one another.

What needs to be operationalized? • War, democracy

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Operationalize the HypothesisWhat impact does the increase of Type 2 diabetes have on U.S. healthcare costs?

1.Identify the DV and IV(s)• DV= U.S. healthcare costs• IV= Type 2 diabetes

2.What needs to be operationalized?• Healthcare ‘costs’, ‘increase’ of the disease

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Operationalize the HypothesisThe higher the level of education, the higher the level of voter turnout expected

1.Identify the DV(s) and the IV(s)• DV= who votes• IV= education level

2.What needs to be operationalized?• Voter turnout, education level

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Operationalize the HypothesisHow do the number of nongovernmental organizations in a country affect a country’s sovereignty?

1.Identify the DV and IV(s)• DV= sovereignty• IV= # of NGOs

2.What needs to be operationalized?• Sovereignty, NGOs

3.What other possible IVs are there?• Level of development, sense of nationalism, etc.

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Operationalize the HypothesisWhat is the correlation between economic benefits and European Union membership?

1.Rephrase into a hypothesis2.Identify the DV and IV(s)3.What needs to be operationalized?

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Good Research?

Two Princeton University researchers analyzed data from web searches to conclude that Facebook will lose most of its users by 2017.

Facebook staffers riposted with “proof” that, based on search data, Princeton itself is on the verge of dying out.

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Good Research?• How reliable are the results?

• Keys• Build on existing research• Replication of study

• Will another test get the same results?• More times results confirmed, increased validity

• Note- not prove, confirm

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Research ResultsMost published research findings are false• Research bias• Bad judgment• Incompetence • Sloppy research design• Misinterpretation

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Jumping the GunProblem•One sensational outcome gets attention

• Cell phones cause brain cancer•Media, policymakers, public hear results•Tend to focus on one sensationalized study

• Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

• More studies = greater likelihood of accuracy

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RecapPolitical Science =

Theories Hypothesis Test with variables using method Confirmed hypothesis or null hypothesisReplicate or investigate¤