Introduction to Politics - Exam 1
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Harold Lasswell (1936) -
correct answer ✅'Who Gets What, When, How?'
Narrow definition of politics -
correct answer ✅e.g. 'an activity that takes place in specific
locations, such as in parliaments'
Problem with the narrow definition of politics -
correct answer ✅excludes numerous activities, which we normally
regard as 'political', such as demonstrations
Wide definition of politics -
correct answer ✅e.g. 'a way of settling the differences between
individuals and groups'
Problem with the wide definition of politics -
correct answer ✅can expand to include all human activities, thus
making them meaningless
Politics -
correct answer ✅"the process by which groups representing
divergent interests and values make collective decisions."
,Introduction to Politics - Exam 1
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
(Diversity,
Scarcity)
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Political philosophy/Political theory
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅American politics
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Comparative politics
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Methodology
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Public administration/Public policy
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅International relations
, Introduction to Politics - Exam 1
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Positivism -
correct answer ✅The view that politics can be studied through the
methods of natural science
Logical positivism -
correct answer ✅only those things that are observable are
legitimate to study
Normative analysis -
correct answer ✅concerned with the beliefs we hold or judgments
we make about what the political world should be like and/or about
how the existing political world falls short of that ideal
Empirical analysis -
correct answer ✅focused on the data that is subject to
observation and sometimes measurement; this approach is
concerned with what is, not what could be
Deductive analysis -
correct answer ✅an approach in which the investigator starts
her/his research with certain assumptions, which s/he later tests
them via empirical evidence
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Harold Lasswell (1936) -
correct answer ✅'Who Gets What, When, How?'
Narrow definition of politics -
correct answer ✅e.g. 'an activity that takes place in specific
locations, such as in parliaments'
Problem with the narrow definition of politics -
correct answer ✅excludes numerous activities, which we normally
regard as 'political', such as demonstrations
Wide definition of politics -
correct answer ✅e.g. 'a way of settling the differences between
individuals and groups'
Problem with the wide definition of politics -
correct answer ✅can expand to include all human activities, thus
making them meaningless
Politics -
correct answer ✅"the process by which groups representing
divergent interests and values make collective decisions."
,Introduction to Politics - Exam 1
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
(Diversity,
Scarcity)
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Political philosophy/Political theory
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅American politics
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Comparative politics
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Methodology
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅Public administration/Public policy
Area of interest in political science -
correct answer ✅International relations
, Introduction to Politics - Exam 1
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Positivism -
correct answer ✅The view that politics can be studied through the
methods of natural science
Logical positivism -
correct answer ✅only those things that are observable are
legitimate to study
Normative analysis -
correct answer ✅concerned with the beliefs we hold or judgments
we make about what the political world should be like and/or about
how the existing political world falls short of that ideal
Empirical analysis -
correct answer ✅focused on the data that is subject to
observation and sometimes measurement; this approach is
concerned with what is, not what could be
Deductive analysis -
correct answer ✅an approach in which the investigator starts
her/his research with certain assumptions, which s/he later tests
them via empirical evidence
