Deck 2: Approaches in Comparative Politics

Question 1

Political theories are alternative approaches to politics. At the broadest level there is the difference between positivist and ?__________ approaches to politics.

Answer 1

constructivist

Question 2

The author postulates a greater use of triangulation in order to improve research quality in comparative politics. What is triangulation? Please select all that apply.

A) To explore the same data with several alternative theories.
B) To explore several forms of data with one underlying theory.
C) To explore several forms of data with several alternative theories.
D) To explore the same data with one single theory.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

An important distinction is between grand theories and middle-range theories. Which of the following approaches can be classified as grand theories? Please select all that apply.

A) Structural functionalism
B) Marxism
C) Systems theory
D) Governance

Answer 3

A,B,C,D

Question 4

What are the five 'I's in the chapter?

A) The five main approaches in comparative politics.
B) The chronological order of the five dominating paradigms in comparative politics.
C) The five competing schools in comparative politics.
D) The five main fields of research in comparative politics.

Question 5

Whats the following fields of research to the respective 'I'.

Question 6

What is the main disadvantage of the institutionalist approaches?

A) They are relatively weak in explaining change.
B) They are weak in explaining policy-outcomes.
C) They are inaccessible to triangulation.
D) They are often blinders for new innovative research approaches.

Question 7

Which of the five 'I's is the root of comparative politics?

A) Institutions
B) Interests
C) Ideas
D) International environment

Question 8

One of the outstanding achievements of comparative politics is the understanding of the political process.

Question 9

According to the author, ?_________ is the ultimate dependent variable of comparative politics.

Question 10

The concept of path dependence belongs to:

A) Historical institutionalism
B) Normative institutionalism
C) Rational institutionalism
D) Interaction