PSC202 Notes
8/22/2022
From Topic to Question
1. SLO #1: Generate empirical questions for political science questions (Powner 1-19)
2. The major subfields of political science
a. American politics- explains the domestic politics of the US
b. Comparative politics- explains the domestic politics of different countries
c. International relations- explains how states interact with one another
d. Political theory- applies the history of political thought and philosophy to
contemporary problems
3. What is “empirical research”?
a. “making sense out of the world that we observe by seeking patterns and
explanations for general phenomena as well as for specific cases” (Powner, 2)
b. Core assumptions of empirical research:
i. The world is composed of systematic and predictable components and
non-systematic and unpredictable (random or stochastic) components
ii. The social world exists as a distinct entity that we can study, independent
and outside ourselves
iii. These assumptions make up the positivist ontology.
4. Jargon: Ontology- assumptions or beliefs about how the world works
a. Ontologies in political science
i. Not all political science subscribes to the positivist ontology
ii. For example, constructivists assume that all human institutions are
mutually constituted by the observers rather than existing outside the
observer
b. Empirical research usually begins by observing some phenomenon that becomes
the research topic
5. Phenomenon (pl. phenomena)
a. An observable fact or event
b. An object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or
institution
6. Research topic- A single noun or expression that interests you. Research Question
differs from a research topic in that its question format provides guidance. It defines a
limited scope or boundary for the topic; it tells us what constitutes an end to the answer
to your relative’s question.
a. Research questions:
i. Usually draw on background knowledge
ii. Often identify or begin from empirical puzzles or anomalous outcomes
iii. Often use “reporter questions”: who, what, when, where, why, how
iv. May link to or draw on theories from the field
8-24-2022
, 1. Empirical Research Questions
a. Asks how the world is or how the world does work
b. Concerned with actual events or phenomena
c. Things that occurred or are occurring
d. Interested in general explanations, rather than specific instances
2. Research questions
a. Normative questions- ask how things should be, or what policies are best.
Includes some element of evaluation against subjective criteria: the “should” or
“better” component.
i. What is the best way to address climate change? This depends entirely on
your subjective definition of “best”.
b. Hypothetical (or theoretical) questions- address issues of what if or what might
be.
i. How might a resurgence of Zapatista guerrillas in southern Mexico affect
the Mexican government’s ability to wage war against the drug cartels
that dominate the north? Requires the researcher to find out how the
gov’t is dealing with the drug cartels now, then to project what would
occur if the rebellion were to reassert itself.
c. Factual/procedural questions- ask questions about the facts of the world.
i. What is the UN’s policy on population control measures? How does the
fed gov’t regulate nuclear power stations? The answers are objectively
verifiable facts.
3. Characteristics of “good” empirical questions
a. Be open-minded- do not start with a biased or predetermined notion of what
you will find
i. Biased: how can we resolve the intractable problems of the Arab-Israeli
conflict?
ii. Better: how do international wars end?
iii. Best: which diplomatic strategies are effective at ending international
conflicts?
b. Allow for several potential answers to your question
i. Questions that allow direction--- positive, negative, or no relationship---
are better than questions that have a simple yes/no answer
ii. Does conflict affect trade? Vs. How does conflict affect trade?
c. Start broad, then narrow
i. Empirical research is interested in generalizable knowledge.
generalizable: making claims that have support (or at least potential
applicability) beyond any one time and space
ii. Easier to narrow the scope than to broaden it
iii. Too narrow: how will rising gas prices due to the Russian invasion of
Ukraine affect the 2022 midterm elections in the US?
iv. Better: how do gas prices affect election results in the US?
v. Best: How do price shocks affect voter support for conservative (versus
liberal) parties?
8/22/2022
From Topic to Question
1. SLO #1: Generate empirical questions for political science questions (Powner 1-19)
2. The major subfields of political science
a. American politics- explains the domestic politics of the US
b. Comparative politics- explains the domestic politics of different countries
c. International relations- explains how states interact with one another
d. Political theory- applies the history of political thought and philosophy to
contemporary problems
3. What is “empirical research”?
a. “making sense out of the world that we observe by seeking patterns and
explanations for general phenomena as well as for specific cases” (Powner, 2)
b. Core assumptions of empirical research:
i. The world is composed of systematic and predictable components and
non-systematic and unpredictable (random or stochastic) components
ii. The social world exists as a distinct entity that we can study, independent
and outside ourselves
iii. These assumptions make up the positivist ontology.
4. Jargon: Ontology- assumptions or beliefs about how the world works
a. Ontologies in political science
i. Not all political science subscribes to the positivist ontology
ii. For example, constructivists assume that all human institutions are
mutually constituted by the observers rather than existing outside the
observer
b. Empirical research usually begins by observing some phenomenon that becomes
the research topic
5. Phenomenon (pl. phenomena)
a. An observable fact or event
b. An object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or
institution
6. Research topic- A single noun or expression that interests you. Research Question
differs from a research topic in that its question format provides guidance. It defines a
limited scope or boundary for the topic; it tells us what constitutes an end to the answer
to your relative’s question.
a. Research questions:
i. Usually draw on background knowledge
ii. Often identify or begin from empirical puzzles or anomalous outcomes
iii. Often use “reporter questions”: who, what, when, where, why, how
iv. May link to or draw on theories from the field
8-24-2022
, 1. Empirical Research Questions
a. Asks how the world is or how the world does work
b. Concerned with actual events or phenomena
c. Things that occurred or are occurring
d. Interested in general explanations, rather than specific instances
2. Research questions
a. Normative questions- ask how things should be, or what policies are best.
Includes some element of evaluation against subjective criteria: the “should” or
“better” component.
i. What is the best way to address climate change? This depends entirely on
your subjective definition of “best”.
b. Hypothetical (or theoretical) questions- address issues of what if or what might
be.
i. How might a resurgence of Zapatista guerrillas in southern Mexico affect
the Mexican government’s ability to wage war against the drug cartels
that dominate the north? Requires the researcher to find out how the
gov’t is dealing with the drug cartels now, then to project what would
occur if the rebellion were to reassert itself.
c. Factual/procedural questions- ask questions about the facts of the world.
i. What is the UN’s policy on population control measures? How does the
fed gov’t regulate nuclear power stations? The answers are objectively
verifiable facts.
3. Characteristics of “good” empirical questions
a. Be open-minded- do not start with a biased or predetermined notion of what
you will find
i. Biased: how can we resolve the intractable problems of the Arab-Israeli
conflict?
ii. Better: how do international wars end?
iii. Best: which diplomatic strategies are effective at ending international
conflicts?
b. Allow for several potential answers to your question
i. Questions that allow direction--- positive, negative, or no relationship---
are better than questions that have a simple yes/no answer
ii. Does conflict affect trade? Vs. How does conflict affect trade?
c. Start broad, then narrow
i. Empirical research is interested in generalizable knowledge.
generalizable: making claims that have support (or at least potential
applicability) beyond any one time and space
ii. Easier to narrow the scope than to broaden it
iii. Too narrow: how will rising gas prices due to the Russian invasion of
Ukraine affect the 2022 midterm elections in the US?
iv. Better: how do gas prices affect election results in the US?
v. Best: How do price shocks affect voter support for conservative (versus
liberal) parties?
