1. Doing Political science

2. 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

3. Subfields of Political Science
American
Institutions
Behavior
Policy
Administration
Law
Comparative
Development
Int’l Relations
Theory
Transnational issues
Global economy
Conflict & Security
-Isms
Time frames
Schools of thought

4. Hypotheses & Variables
Political Science
Have a theory about something
Testable hypothesis
Systematic and rigorous research
Replicable results

5. PROVE

6. 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

7. Testing Hypothesis Use methodology Qualitative Quantitative
Combo of both

8. Hypothesis?

9. Variables Variables = Factors in the hypothesis Dependent (DV)
What you’re trying to explain
Independent (IV)
What you think explains the phenomenon

10. 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

11. 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¤

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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?

18. 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.

19. 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

20. Research Results Most published research findings are false
Research bias
Bad judgment
Incompetence
Sloppy research design
Misinterpretation

21. 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

22. Recap Political Science = Theories Hypothesis
Test with variables using method
Confirmed hypothesis or null hypothesis
Replicate or investigate