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Doing Political science. Politics & Science. What is politics? What is science? What is Political Science? Testable hypothesis Systematic and rigorous research Empirical evidence Observation, logic, knowledge, evidence Replicable results ¤. Subfields of Political Science.
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Politics & Science • What is politics? • What is science? • What is Political Science? • Testable hypothesis • Systematic and rigorous research • Empirical evidence • Observation, logic, knowledge, evidence • Replicable results ¤
Hypotheses & Variables Political Science • Have a theory about something • Testable hypothesis • Systematic and rigorous research • Replicable results ¤
Hypothesis What 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 ¤
Testing Hypothesis Use methodology • Qualitative • Quantitative • Combo of both ¤
Variables Variables = Factors in the hypothesis • Dependent (DV) • What you’re trying to explain • Independent (IV) • What you think explains the phenomenon ¤
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 ¤
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¤ ¤
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 ¤
Operationalization To 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 ¤
Operationalize the Hypothesis What impact does the increase of Type 2 diabetes have on U.S. healthcare costs? • Identify the DV and IV(s) • DV= U.S. healthcare costs • IV= Type 2 diabetes • What needs to be operationalized? • Healthcare ‘costs’, ‘increase’ of the disease ¤
Operationalize the Hypothesis The higher the level of education, the higher the level of voter turnout expected • Identify the DV(s) and the IV(s) • DV= who votes • IV= education level • What needs to be operationalized? • Voter turnout, education level ¤
Operationalize the Hypothesis How do the number of nongovernmental organizations in a country affect a country’s sovereignty? • Identify the DV and IV(s) • DV= sovereignty • IV= # of NGOs • What needs to be operationalized? • Sovereignty, NGOs • What other possible IVs are there? • Level of development, sense of nationalism, etc. ¤
Operationalize the Hypothesis • What is the correlation between economic benefits and European Union membership? • Rephrase into a hypothesis • Identify the DV and IV(s) • What needs to be operationalized? • ¤
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. • ¤
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 • ¤
Research Results • Most published research findings are false • Research bias • Bad judgment • Incompetence • Sloppy research design • Misinterpretation • ¤
Jumping the Gun • Problem • 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 • ¤
Recap • Political Science = • Theories • Hypothesis • Test with variables using method • Confirmed hypothesis or null hypothesis • Replicate or investigate • ¤