research chapter one
social science research
describing and explaining our sociao and political world, observation and evudence
arguments
The reasons given to support an argument are based on evidence that is, information observed and
measured in the world—and assessing the argument critically requires assessing the quality and relevance of the evidence.
evidence
Evidence is information that is observed and measured in the world
normative analysis
A form of analysis that is prescriptive in nature and addresses how society and political life should be
normative arguments
reason and logic. Based in value judgements and preferences
normative position
assumes that evidence can be found, and that it will be of sufficient quality to allow decision
making.
normative approach
knowledge about things as they ought to be or as we would wish them to be; this is the realm of political philosophy.
Empirical Analysis
Descriptive or explanatory in nature
Empirical research
seeks to base its arguments on evidence obtained from observation and
measurement of the physical and social worlds.
Empirical approach
Can be used to gain knowledge about things as they are, that is, knowledge of social and political reality; this is the realm of political science.
Empiricism
belief that knowledge is derived from real world observation, rather than being derived a priori or by intuition
empirical statement
observable facts
intersubjectivity
Evidence based policy making is best supported by a body of research
Replication
• the belief that knowledge is cumulative and is best acquired through a continuous application of the scientific method, including repeated observation, careful testing, and a replication of the results under varying conditions
science
a set of rules rhat helpbus understand the world
positivism
the scientific approach is the best way to gain knowledge
scientific approach
application of the scientific method to the study of political phenomena.
epistomology
refers ro way of thinking about knowledgev
methodology
a way of obtaining knowledge, limit of scietific approach is that not everything can be interepted as quant
empiricism
knowledge is derived from real world observation, rather than being derived a priori or by intuition
Determinism
the idea that everything has a cause, assumptiom pf patterened bhevaiour
Objectivity
science should create an accurate representation of reality
replication
belief that knowledge is acquired through a continuous application of the scientific method—that is, repeated observation, careful testing, and a proximate duplication of the results under varying conditions.
goals for emoiricism
empiricism motivates us to measure and understand the political world and generalize our understanding thriugh the forumaltion of theories
goals for determinism
motivates understand cause and effect
goals for objectivity
unbiased understandinf of political world
goals for replication
motivates us to be transparent in our methods and to be open to being proven wrong.
scientific approach
Effective for understanding the complex social world, but has limitations in political studies.
first limitation
not everything can be empirically measured
second limitation
true objectivity is impossoble, beliefs and values, subjectivity is always present
Interpretivism
Interpretivism is the view that reality does not exist independent of individuals and that all knowledge is socially constructed
• A fundamental principle
the scientific process
propose a research question
gather empiricial evidenve
communicate the results