Chapter 1
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following types of analysis might use a study of a city’s population to
understand voting trends?
a.) quantitative
b.) qualitative
c.) normative
d.) rational
Page ref.: 3
2. Which of the following types of analysis might seek to explain the functioning of a municipal
government?
a.) quantitative
b.) qualitative
c.) normative
d.) rational
Page ref.: 3
3. Which of the following types of analysis considers how political knowledge should be used?
a.) quantitative
b.) qualitative
c.) normative
d.) rational
Page ref.: 2
4. Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of scientific research?
a.) explicit
b.) controlled
c.) reactive
d.) systematic
Page ref.: 4
5. In the political science research process, which of the following comes before the selection of
research methods?
a.) observations of behavior
b.) data analysis
c.) interpretation of results
d.) theory formulation
Page ref.: 4
1
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
,6. Which of the following provides the best definition for “operationalization” in the context of
the political research process?
a.) putting political theory into practice by establishing new institutions
b.) moving from thinking about a problem to a solution to the problem
c.) quantification of political processes
d.) analysis of results from political analysis
Page ref.: 7
7. Which of the following should be avoided in political analysis?
a.) reactivity
b.) generalizability
c.) feasibility
d.) operationalization
Page ref.: 9-10
8. The Hawthorne effect is most closely associated with which phase of the political science
research process?
a.) formulation of a theory
b.) analysis of data
c.) observation of behavior
d.) interpretation of results
Page ref.: 10
9. Which of the following is the first key question to ask when analyzing data?
a.) What type of relationship exists between measured variables?
b.) Is the data reliable?
c.) What problem has been addressed?
d.) Is there a relationship between the measured variables?
Page ref.: 11
10. In political science research, “confidence in findings” refers to the
a.) relationship between the sample and the larger population
b.) tabulation of data
c.) choice of subjects
d.) reporting of data
Page ref.: 12
Short Answer
1. Compare the roles of normative analysis, quantitative analysis, and qualitative analysis in the
political science research process.
2. Consider the authors’ contention that basic and applied research often conflict. Give an
example of a current problem that could be approached by both methods, and how the two
2
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
, approaches might compete with each other.
3. Which stage of the political science research process do you find the most likely to lead to
unreliable results? Why?
4. Considering the analysis of data for political science research, give an example of a political
issue where the relationship between two variables is a politically charged question; i.e. the
relationship between education for prisoners and the likelihood that they will abandon
criminal behavior.
5. Give an example of an area in which you have engaged in tacit political theorization.
3
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
, Chapter 2
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following does NOT describe theories in the social sciences?
a.) a simplification of real systems
b.) tools for studying complex processes
c.) conceptualization of a problem
d.) logically related symbols of real processes
Page Ref.: 18-19
2. Which of the following best describes the process of induction?
a.) generalization from the observable
b.) observation of phenomena
c.) moving from the abstract to the concrete
d.) conceptualization of a problem
Page Ref.: 20
3. Which of the following best describes the process of deduction?
a.) generalization from the observable
b.) observation of phenomena
c.) moving from the abstract to the concrete
d.) conceptualization of a problem
Page Ref.:22
4. In describing a social science theory, what does the term parsimonious mean?
a.) The theory is consistent and unambiguous.
b.) The theory is generally applicable.
c.) Researchers are able to test the theory.
d.) The theory avoids excessive complexity.
Page Ref.: 23
5. When a concept is directly or indirectly observable, it is said to have which of the following?
a.) assumptions
b.) a concept
c.) reactivity
d.) empirical referents
Page Ref.: 24
4
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following types of analysis might use a study of a city’s population to
understand voting trends?
a.) quantitative
b.) qualitative
c.) normative
d.) rational
Page ref.: 3
2. Which of the following types of analysis might seek to explain the functioning of a municipal
government?
a.) quantitative
b.) qualitative
c.) normative
d.) rational
Page ref.: 3
3. Which of the following types of analysis considers how political knowledge should be used?
a.) quantitative
b.) qualitative
c.) normative
d.) rational
Page ref.: 2
4. Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of scientific research?
a.) explicit
b.) controlled
c.) reactive
d.) systematic
Page ref.: 4
5. In the political science research process, which of the following comes before the selection of
research methods?
a.) observations of behavior
b.) data analysis
c.) interpretation of results
d.) theory formulation
Page ref.: 4
1
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
,6. Which of the following provides the best definition for “operationalization” in the context of
the political research process?
a.) putting political theory into practice by establishing new institutions
b.) moving from thinking about a problem to a solution to the problem
c.) quantification of political processes
d.) analysis of results from political analysis
Page ref.: 7
7. Which of the following should be avoided in political analysis?
a.) reactivity
b.) generalizability
c.) feasibility
d.) operationalization
Page ref.: 9-10
8. The Hawthorne effect is most closely associated with which phase of the political science
research process?
a.) formulation of a theory
b.) analysis of data
c.) observation of behavior
d.) interpretation of results
Page ref.: 10
9. Which of the following is the first key question to ask when analyzing data?
a.) What type of relationship exists between measured variables?
b.) Is the data reliable?
c.) What problem has been addressed?
d.) Is there a relationship between the measured variables?
Page ref.: 11
10. In political science research, “confidence in findings” refers to the
a.) relationship between the sample and the larger population
b.) tabulation of data
c.) choice of subjects
d.) reporting of data
Page ref.: 12
Short Answer
1. Compare the roles of normative analysis, quantitative analysis, and qualitative analysis in the
political science research process.
2. Consider the authors’ contention that basic and applied research often conflict. Give an
example of a current problem that could be approached by both methods, and how the two
2
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
, approaches might compete with each other.
3. Which stage of the political science research process do you find the most likely to lead to
unreliable results? Why?
4. Considering the analysis of data for political science research, give an example of a political
issue where the relationship between two variables is a politically charged question; i.e. the
relationship between education for prisoners and the likelihood that they will abandon
criminal behavior.
5. Give an example of an area in which you have engaged in tacit political theorization.
3
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
, Chapter 2
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following does NOT describe theories in the social sciences?
a.) a simplification of real systems
b.) tools for studying complex processes
c.) conceptualization of a problem
d.) logically related symbols of real processes
Page Ref.: 18-19
2. Which of the following best describes the process of induction?
a.) generalization from the observable
b.) observation of phenomena
c.) moving from the abstract to the concrete
d.) conceptualization of a problem
Page Ref.: 20
3. Which of the following best describes the process of deduction?
a.) generalization from the observable
b.) observation of phenomena
c.) moving from the abstract to the concrete
d.) conceptualization of a problem
Page Ref.:22
4. In describing a social science theory, what does the term parsimonious mean?
a.) The theory is consistent and unambiguous.
b.) The theory is generally applicable.
c.) Researchers are able to test the theory.
d.) The theory avoids excessive complexity.
Page Ref.: 23
5. When a concept is directly or indirectly observable, it is said to have which of the following?
a.) assumptions
b.) a concept
c.) reactivity
d.) empirical referents
Page Ref.: 24
4
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
