Question 1

Recent discussions of the future of comparative politics and political science have called for
A) a greater focus on the relationship between politics and environmental change.
B) a greater use of social media to promote findings.
C) a greater connection to real-world concerns and contribution to the ideals of civic life.
D) even greater distance between scholarship and real-world politics in order to remain objective.

Accepted Answer

Recent discussions have emphasized the need for comparative politics and political science to have a greater connection to real-world concerns and contribute to the ideals of civic life. This involves conducting research that is relevant to current issues and providing policy recommendations that can improve people's lives.

Question 2

Which of the following could be considered a major challenge faced by political scientists in their use of the comparative method?
A) tendency of researchers to focus on too broad a geographic area
B) difficulty in choosing from among a large number of comparable cases
C) general reluctance to look at historical factors
D) difficulty in controlling variables

Accepted Answer

Difficulty in controlling variables is a major challenge faced by political scientists in their use of the comparative method as it is difficult to isolate and control the impact of various variables on the outcome being studied. This can lead to inaccurate or misleading conclusions. Although A, B, and C are also challenges faced by political scientists, they are not as significant as difficulty in controlling variables.

Question 3

In which of the following ways were behaviorialism and modernization theory similar?
A) They both constituted a set of hypotheses about how countries develop.
B) They both rejected the study of politics as a means to generate specific policy outcomes.
C) They both attempted to broaden comparative politics outside of the European model.
D) They both constituted new, more scientific attempts to study politics.

Accepted Answer

Both behavioralism and modernization theory aimed to apply more scientific methods to the study of politics, emphasizing empirical research and systematic analysis.

Question 4

Which of the following would be an example of selection bias?
A) studying revolutions by looking at cases with outcomes of revolution and nonrevolution
B) only studying evidence consistent with your political ideology
C) studying the causes of democracy by looking only at cases with outcomes of democracy
D) studying religiosity to see if it is correlated with postcolonial regimes

Accepted Answer

Selection bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population being studied. In this case, studying only cases with outcomes of democracy ignores cases without democracy, leading to biased conclusions about the causes of democracy.

Question 5

The shift in comparative politics away from political institutions (such as legislatures and constitutions)and toward individual political behavior is known as the
A) analytical revolt.
B) statistical turn.
C) behavioral revolution.
D) causal transformation.

Accepted Answer

The shift in comparative politics away from political institutions (such as legislatures and constitutions) and toward individual political behavior is specifically referred to as the behavioral revolution.

Question 6

Modernization theory can be defined as the view that
A) as societies develop, they will become capitalist democracies, converging around shared values.
B) each country and region will likely take a different route to modernization.
C) significant social and economic change is possible only through revolution.
D) the only way to modernize is to apply scientific methods to social and economic problems.

Accepted Answer

Modernization theory posits that as societies develop, they will become more similar to each other, converging around shared values such as democracy and capitalism. This view emphasizes the importance of economic growth and industrialization as well as the spread of modern ideas and institutions.

Question 7

What is inductive reasoning?
A) starting from a hypothesis, then seeking out the evidence
B) starting from a single case, then generating a hypothesis
C) the process of testing evidence using extensive field research
D) using ideological assumptions to create policy

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning involves starting from a single case or specific observation and using it to generate a hypothesis or theory about a larger pattern or phenomenon. It is a bottom-up approach that relies on specific evidence to develop broader conclusions.

Question 8

Which of the following statements best describes the current trend in comparative politics research?
A) There is discussion of moving away from predictive models toward a more historical-cultural approach to establish trends and patterns.
B) An evolution toward models that analyze politics and compare its role in different countries-inductively, deductively, qualitatively, and quantitatively-is well under way.
C) There has been a strong trend in comparative politics toward using quantitative methodologies to the near-total exclusion of qualitative methods.
D) More comparative politics scholars are using a mixed-method approach to conducting research.

Accepted Answer

The statement that more comparative politics scholars are using a mixed-method approach to conducting research aligns with the current trend in comparative politics research. While quantitative methods are still prevalent, there is an increasing recognition of the value of incorporating qualitative methods and a more holistic approach to research. Therefore, choice D is the most accurate statement.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about game theory is accurate?
A) It assumes rational, predictable behavior by individuals.
B) It considers cultural factors to be a major determinant of human political choices.
C) Its primary political actor of focus is the institution.
D) It is often used in qualitative research.

Accepted Answer

Game theory assumes rationality of individuals and seeks to understand and predict their behavior based on this assumption. Cultural factors may play a role in game theory models, but they are not considered a major determinant of political choices. Game theory is a quantitative approach to research, and as such is not commonly used in qualitative research. Finally, game theory can be applied to a variety of political actors, including individuals, groups, and institutions, but it does not have a primary focus on any one of these.

Question 10

A major criticism of comparative politics at the turn of the twentieth century was that it
A) relied too heavily on predictive models.
B) was too focused on postrevolutionary states.
C) employed too many quantitative methods.
D) tended to be descriptive, atheoretical, and Eurocentric.

Accepted Answer

At the turn of the twentieth century, comparative politics was criticized for being descriptive, atheoretical, and Eurocentric. It was also criticized for not focusing enough on non-European states and for not using enough qualitative methods. However, there was not a specific criticism about reliance on predictive models or postrevolutionary states.

Question 11

In case study research,one problem that may emerge is choosing only cases that match the expected results of the research question.This is known as
A) choice limiting.
B) inference liability.
C) selection bias.
D) norm bounding.

Accepted Answer

Selection bias refers to the tendency to choose cases that are more likely to confirm the researcher's hypothesis or expectations, while ignoring or excluding cases that may contradict them. This can lead to a distorted or incomplete understanding of the research problem, and reduce the validity and reliability of the findings. To minimize selection bias, researchers should use a representative and diverse sample of cases, and consider alternative explanations or counterfactuals that challenge their assumptions.

Question 12

Endogeneity refers to the
A) problem of distinguishing cause from effect.
B) use of methods from psychology to better understand comparative politics.
C) problem that some political questions may not have answers.
D) use of research from biology or other sciences to study human behavior.

Accepted Answer

Endogeneity refers to the problem of distinguishing cause and effect in research. It occurs when a variable being studied is influenced by other variables in the same system, making it difficult to isolate the true causal relationship. This can lead to biased or incorrect results if not properly accounted for in research design and analysis. Choices B, C, and D are not related to the concept of endogeneity.

Question 13

Critics of the behavioral revolution accused it of which of the following?
A) It was too focused on history.
B) It had come to emphasize methodology over knowledge.
C) It had not fully embraced mathematical innovations.
D) It was not interested in developing predictive models of politics.

Accepted Answer

Critics of the behavioral revolution argued that it had become too focused on methodological techniques and had neglected the importance of theoretical knowledge and understanding. They also believed that it had lost sight of important political issues and questions, and had become too concerned with statistical analysis and measurement.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the current institutional approach to comparative politics is accurate?
A) It rejects the value of studying how individuals shape politics.
B) It accepts the basic tenets of modernization theory but provides more empirical support.
C) It shares an emphasis on the importance of institutions with pre-1950s comparative politics research.
D) It differs from behavioralism in its rejection of cause-and-effect relationships.

Accepted Answer

The current institutional approach to comparative politics shares an emphasis on the importance of institutions with pre-1950s comparative politics research. The approach looks at how formal and informal rules and structures shape political behavior and outcomes, and how they interact with other factors like culture and geography. It is not characterized by a rejection of the value of studying how individuals shape politics (A), nor does it accept the basic tenets of modernization theory (B) or reject cause-and-effect relationships (D) in the same way that traditional behavioralism did.

Question 15

A distinct comparative approach to politics first emerges with the work of
A) Marx.
B) Hobbes.
C) Rousseau.
D) Machiavelli.

Accepted Answer

Machiavelli's work in "The Prince" is often seen as the first comparative study of politics, as he compared the different methods used by rulers to maintain their power. Marx, Hobbes, and Rousseau are important political theorists, but their work did not involve comparative analysis in the same way.

Question 16

One big rift within the study of comparative politics is
A) poststructuralism versus critical realism.
B) epistemology versus ontology.
C) quantitative versus qualitative research.
D) structural versus agent-centered research.

Accepted Answer

Comparative politics often debates the merits and limitations of quantitative versus qualitative research methods, as these approaches offer different insights and have distinct methodological implications.

Question 17

What is deductive reasoning?
A) starting from a hypothesis, then seeking out the evidence
B) starting from a single case, then generating a hypothesis
C) the process of testing evidence using extensive field research
D) using ideological assumptions to create policy

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning involves starting from a hypothesis or general statement and then seeking out evidence to support it. It is a top-down approach where conclusions are drawn from general premises.

Question 18

Politics is defined as the
A) battle over economic resources and their use.
B) struggle in any group for the power to make decisions for the larger group.
C) ability to impose your values on others.
D) relationship between international actors.

Accepted Answer

The definition of politics is the struggle or competition within a group to gain power and make decisions for the larger group. While economic resources may be involved in politics, it is not the sole focus. Politics is also not solely about imposing one's values on others, although values and beliefs can certainly play a role. The relationship between international actors is more specifically defined as international relations.

Question 19

Which of the following events marked a major turning point in the field of comparative politics?
A) World War I, World War II, and the Cold War
B) the Great Depression
C) the American Civil War and Reconstruction
D) the United Nations and NATO

Accepted Answer

World War I, World War II, and the Cold War greatly influenced and shaped the field of comparative politics by creating a global shift in power, promoting the spread of democracy and communism, and emphasizing the importance of international relations and foreign policy. The aftermath of these events led scholars to focus on analyzing and understanding the political systems and ideologies of different nations in a comparative manner.

Question 20

An institution can be defined as any
A) object or value that people support through public funds.
B) large, monolithic organization that depends on a core bureaucracy and a set of standard operating procedures.
C) organization or activity that is self-perpetuating and valued for its own sake.
D) organization or action that is subject to government regulation.

Accepted Answer

This is the most general and inclusive definition of an institution. It encompasses not only government organizations or activities, but also cultural and social institutions that people value and perpetuate for their own sake, such as marriage, religion, or professional associations. A is too narrow, B emphasizes bureaucracy too much, and D is too dependent on external regulation.

Quiz 1: Introduction

Recent discussions of the future of comparative politics and political science have called for

Which of the following could be considered a major challenge faced by political scientists in their use of the comparative method?

In which of the following ways were behaviorialism and modernization theory similar?

Which of the following would be an example of selection bias?

The shift in comparative politics away from political institutions (such as legislatures and constitutions) and toward individual political behavior is known as the

Modernization theory can be defined as the view that

What is inductive reasoning?

Which of the following statements best describes the current trend in comparative politics research?

Which of the following statements about game theory is accurate?

A major criticism of comparative politics at the turn of the twentieth century was that it

In case study research,one problem that may emerge is choosing only cases that match the expected results of the research question.This is known as

Endogeneity refers to the

Critics of the behavioral revolution accused it of which of the following?

Which of the following statements about the current institutional approach to comparative politics is accurate?

A distinct comparative approach to politics first emerges with the work of

One big rift within the study of comparative politics is

What is deductive reasoning?

Politics is defined as the

Which of the following events marked a major turning point in the field of comparative politics?

An institution can be defined as any