Deck 2: The Empirical Approach to Political Science

Question 1

Knowledge that is concerned not with evaluation or prescription but with factual or objective determinations is known as ________________.

Answer 1

Nonnormative knowledge

Question 2

How would you apply the concept of Ockham's Razor to work in political science? In your answer please provide an example.

Answer 2

The answer should include an explanation of how scientists recognize that theories should be parsimonious. It should include an example of a complex theory and a simple theory with the acknowledgment that the simple theory is the better explanation.

Question 3

When statements or hypotheses can in principle be rejected in the face of contravening empirical evidence we can say that they are ______________.

Answer 3

Falsifiable

Question 4

_______ theories claim to describe and account for an entire body of human behavior.

A) Global
B) Narrow
C) Mid-range
D) Societal

Question 5

Most political scientists, like scientists in other disciplines, accept ______________, in which it is not necessary to explain or predict a phenomenon with 100% accuracy.

A) Approximate explanation
B) Nonapproximate explanation
C) Probabilistic explanation
D) Nonprobabilistic explanation

Question 6

Modern political science relies heavily on one kind of knowledge, knowledge obtained through _________.

A) Normative thought
B) Objective observation
C) Critical theory
D) Constructivism

Question 7

_______ is an approach to knowledge that asserts humans actually construct-through their social interactions and cultural and historical practices-many of the facts they take for granted as having an independent, objective, or material reality.

A) Empiricism
B) The scientific method
C) Critical theory
D) Constructionism

Question 8

Scientific knowledge is ___________ in that both the substantive findings and research techniques are built upon the results of prior studies.

Question 9

Proponents of alternatives to the scientific methods may be labeled as ________

A) Nonempiricists
B) Empiricists
C) Deductionists
D) Inductionists

Question 10

A valid __________ argument is one in which, if the premises are true, the conclusion must necessarily be true as well.

A) Deductive
B) Inductive
C) Productive
D) Reductive

Question 11

Please explain the difference between normative and nonnormative knowledge.

Question 12

___________ refers to the process of drawing an inference from a set of premises and observations.

A) Deductive reasoning or deduction
B) Inductive reasoning or induction
C) Reductive reasoning or reduction
D) Productive reasoning or production

Question 13

One of the following is a crucial aspect of empirical theory:

A) It meets the tenets of critical theory
B) It deemphasizes parsimony
C) It is not cumulative
D) It leads to specific testable predictions

Question 14

Knowledge that is evaluative, value laden, and concerned with prescribing what ought to be is known as ___________ knowledge.

A) Normative
B) Nonnormative
C) Probabilistic
D) Nonprobabilistic

Question 15

A _______ is a body of statements that systematize knowledge of, and explain, phenomena.

A) Research statement
B) Hypothesis
C) Null hypothesis
D) Theory

Question 16

_____________ is important because it can be predictive by offering systematic, reasoned anticipation of future events.

Question 17

Please explain why scientific knowledge must be transmissible.

Question 18

An _____________ summarizes relationships between individual facts.

Question 19

___________ dictates that when given a choice between two compelling explanations, the explanation that relies on fewer explanatory factors is the better choice.

A) Falsifiability
B) Parsimony
C) Induction
D) Verification

Question 20

Practitioners of _____________ believe that a proper goal of social science is to critique and improve society (by making it more just and humane) rather than merely understand or explain what is going on.

A) Empiricism
B) The scientific method
C) Critical theory
D) Deduction

Question 21

Explanation is an important component of scientific knowledge. How does explanation lead to prediction?

Question 22

In this essay, please identify and discuss the central components of scientific knowledge in political science. In your answer please explain how each component contributes to the validity of the work.

Question 23

Please explain the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning. In your answer, please define each term. Also, please provide an example of each.

Question 24

What is a theory?

Question 25

Please summarize the debate over whether political science is really a science. In your answer please give arguments from both sides of the debate and indicate which side of the argument is correct.