p.10
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What does 'X' serve as in a theoretical context?
The explanatory factor or the most likely cause.
p.1
Definition of Comparative Politics
What is the focus of the comparative approach in political science?
To analyze and compare political systems, behaviors, and institutions across different countries.
p.15
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What are the two main strategies for case selection in research?
Qualitative strategies and quantitative strategies.
p.6
Types of Comparative Politics
How do researchers test causal relationships in comparative politics?
By employing systematic comparison across numerous cases.
p.29
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
Why is inferring democracy from individual responses misleading?
Overt support for democracy at the individual level is not a reliable measure of democratic institutions at the societal level.
p.9
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What is the first step in conducting Comparative Politics?
Define the research question or hypothesis.
p.14
Comparative Analysis Techniques
What determines the type of analysis that can be conducted in comparative research?
The number of observations, whether large - N (many observations) or small - N (few observations).
p.7
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
How does Comparative Politics formulate explanations for differences?
By formulating hypotheses and using empirical data to test them.
p.5
Types of Comparative Politics
How was Comparative Politics viewed when the discipline first began?
It mainly meant the study of political systems outside the US, often analyzed in isolation.
p.4
Subfields of Political Science
How is Comparative Politics characterized?
As an empirical and value-neutral subfield that seeks to answer questions like 'Why do people participate in politics?'
p.17
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is the focus of a few (small-N) case study?
Holistic comparison of two or more cases.
p.7
Types of Comparative Politics
What is one method used in Comparative Politics to organize political phenomena?
Establish classifications and typologies by dividing political phenomena into groups with common attributes.
p.5
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What question does the methodological aspect of Comparative Politics address?
How comparative analyses should be conducted.
p.19
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What is the first goal suggested by John S. Mill for comparative research?
Maximize Experimental Variance.
p.9
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is essential for selecting cases in Comparative Politics?
Choosing cases that are relevant and comparable.
p.13
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is an example of internal validity?
"X → Y" applies to the country cases (A, B, C, D & E) being studied.
p.3
Definition of Comparative Politics
What is Comparative Politics?
A subfield of Political Science that focuses on comparing political systems, institutions, and processes.
p.8
Types of Comparative Politics
What does Comparative Politics primarily compare?
National and non-national political systems.
p.4
Subfields of Political Science
What is the main focus of Comparative Politics?
Exploring interactions within political systems and power relationships between individuals and groups.
p.24
Logics and Methods of Comparison
Does the logic itself generate the list of potential causes?
No, the list is formulated based on theory about likely causes of the effects.
p.25
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is a potential consequence of conceptual stretching?
Distortion of the concept when applied to cases where its features may not fit.
p.28
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
How can Galton's problem affect research conclusions?
It can confound the relationship between dependent and independent variables, hindering valid conclusions.
p.13
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What does external validity refer to?
The extent to which the results of the comparative research can be valid for other similar cases not included in the research.
p.5
Types of Comparative Politics
What does the study of a single country in Comparative Politics involve?
An in-depth analysis of the political system within a specific country outside your home country.
p.31
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is a common voting trend among wealthier individuals?
They tend to vote Republican.
p.15
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What characterizes qualitative strategies in case selection?
They typically involve many variables and few cases (small-N, less than 10 or 15).
p.25
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is 'conceptual stretching' in comparative research?
The process of extending concepts to apply to other contexts, increasing observations across more cases.
p.4
Subfields of Political Science
What does International Relations study?
Interactions between different political systems, addressing issues like balance of power, war, and trade.
p.8
Types of Comparative Politics
What are examples of sovereign states in Comparative Politics?
Independent countries recognized by international law.
p.20
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does the Method of Agreement emphasize in comparative analysis?
It emphasizes comparing cases to identify consistent relationships between the dependent variable (Y) and the independent variable (X), even as other variables vary.
p.19
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does maximizing experimental variance allow researchers to determine?
Whether X accounts for changes in Y.
p.8
Types of Comparative Politics
What types of political systems are compared in Comparative Politics?
Democratic, hybrid, and authoritarian regimes.
p.6
Types of Comparative Politics
What does the analytical approach in comparative politics involve?
Identification and explanation of similarities and differences between countries, their institutions, actors, processes, and outcomes.
p.17
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is a single case study?
An intensive study of a single instance with wider significance.
p.24
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What do Mill's logics presuppose in comparative research?
The existence of a list of potential causes to consider.
p.17
Comparative Analysis Techniques
What type of analysis is used in many (large-N) cases?
Statistical assessments of the relationships between variables.
p.28
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is Galton's problem in comparative research?
It refers to the potential influence of an exogenous factor common to all cases selected for comparison.
p.29
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What does 'lip service' to democracy imply?
It does not necessarily reflect a deep commitment to crucial democratic norms.
p.24
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What assumption do the logics make about the causes of effects?
That there is only one unique cause of the effect among the factors considered.
p.25
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
How can we increase a concept's applicability across more cases?
By making the concept less specific or 'thinner'.
p.21
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What type of system does MSSD analyze?
Countries that are similar in many aspects but differ in one or more key variables.
p.11
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What could explain the variation in welfare spending among countries?
If the government of a country is controlled by a left-wing party, then its welfare spending will likely exceed 15% of its GDP.
p.30
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What historical trend contradicts the voting patterns observed in the 2016 election?
Historically, wealthier individuals have tended to vote Republican.
p.1
Subfields of Political Science
Who is the instructor for the course on Comparative Politics?
Dr. NG, Tsz Fung Kenneth.
p.26
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What are the two potential solutions to conceptual stretching?
Family Resemblance and Radial Categories.
p.14
Definition of Comparative Politics
In comparative politics, what do 'cases' refer to?
Units of observation that are to be compared, such as countries.
p.26
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
How can political parties be defined in terms of their characteristics?
As any actor that is vote-seeking (A), office-seeking (B), and policy-seeking (C).
p.21
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What logic is MSSD based on?
The method of difference.
p.33
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
How can focusing solely on English-speaking democracies affect research findings?
It may not provide accurate insights into the characteristics of all democracies, as it excludes non-English-speaking democracies.
p.30
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What is the ecological fallacy in comparative research?
It occurs when aggregate-level data is used to make inferences about individual or group-level behavior.
p.4
Types of Comparative Politics
How does Comparative Politics differ from International Relations?
Comparative Politics explores interactions within political systems, while International Relations focuses on interactions between different political systems.
p.18
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What defines a prototypical case?
A case expected to become typical of the category.
p.11
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is the research question regarding welfare spending?
Why do some countries spend more than 15% of their GDP on welfare provisions while others spend 15% or less?
p.23
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does MDSD stand for in comparative research?
Most Different Systems Design.
p.10
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What does a theory establish in the context of comparative research?
A relationship between two real-world phenomena.
p.23
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is the focus of MSSD?
Selecting cases that are similar on features but not part of the X → Y relation.
p.13
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is a potential benefit of analyzing fewer cases?
It may lead to a more coherent and solid conclusion for the set of cases included, enhancing internal validity.
p.14
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What are the two key questions to consider in case selection for comparative research design?
Which cases are most suitable for comparison and how many cases should be selected?
p.31
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What voting trend is observed among poorer individuals?
They tend to vote Democrat.
p.6
Types of Comparative Politics
What can researchers verify or falsify using the comparative method?
Causal relationships between variables.
p.31
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What can obscure voting trends when analyzing state-level data?
Looking solely at the average wealth of each state.
p.29
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What can happen if broad conclusions about democracy are drawn from individual responses?
It can lead to misleading results.
p.21
Logics and Methods of Comparison
In the context of MSSD, what is a key characteristic of countries A and B?
Both have a left-wing party government, are ethnically homogeneous, have a parliamentary system, and high welfare spending.
p.23
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does MSSD stand for in comparative research?
Most Similar Systems Design.
p.10
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is the purpose of employing comparative methods in research?
To bridge theory and evidence.
p.20
Logics and Methods of Comparison
How does the Method of Agreement differ from the Method of Difference?
The Method of Agreement looks for consistent relationships between Y and X across varying cases, while the Method of Difference compares cases with differing values for Y or X.
p.28
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is another example of Galton's problem?
The choice for a Westminster style of parliamentary governance in former British colonies.
p.8
Types of Comparative Politics
What single elements of political systems are analyzed?
Structure of institutions, policies, and finances of political parties.
p.10
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is a variable?
A concept that can be systematically observed and measured in various situations.
p.33
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is a selection bias in comparative research?
It occurs when the samples used for analysis are not representative or when proper data randomization is not achieved.
p.7
Definition of Comparative Politics
What does Comparative Politics do in practice?
It describes similarities and differences in the political world.
p.33
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What can selection biases lead to in comparative research?
The selection of cases with no variation on the dependent variable, making it impossible to learn about the causes of that variable.
p.14
Definition of Comparative Politics
What becomes the unit of observation when comparing individual voters or political parties?
The 'voter' or 'party' within the case.
p.20
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What is the Method of Difference in comparative inquiries?
It focuses on comparing cases with differing values for either the dependent variable (Y) or the independent variable (X), while maintaining a constant context and covariation between Y and X.
p.31
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is the likely answer regarding voting trends despite state-level trends?
The latter (individual wealth influencing voting).
p.2
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What methods are commonly used in Comparative Politics?
Methods include case studies, statistical analysis, and comparative historical analysis.
p.22
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What is the Most Different Systems Design (MDSD)?
A comparative method based on the logic of the method of agreement.
p.22
Logics and Methods of Comparison
In the context of MDSD, what does a 'Yes' indicate for a country having a left-wing party government?
It indicates that the country has a left-wing party in government.
p.23
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is the focus of MDSD?
Selecting cases that are dissimilar on many features but not part of the X → Y relation.
p.22
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What is the significance of a parliamentary system in MDSD?
It indicates the type of governance structure in the country.
p.22
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does high welfare spending imply in the context of MDSD?
It suggests a significant investment in social welfare programs.
p.4
Subfields of Political Science
What does Political Theory focus on?
Normative and theoretical questions, such as 'Why should people participate in politics?'
p.29
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What is the 'individual fallacy' in comparative research?
It occurs when data measured at the individual or group level is interpreted as if it represents the whole.
p.2
Definition of Comparative Politics
What are the main focuses of Comparative Politics?
It focuses on understanding political phenomena, analyzing political systems, and comparing political institutions and processes.
p.2
Definition of Comparative Politics
Why is Comparative Politics important?
It helps to identify patterns, test theories, and understand the complexities of political dynamics in various contexts.
p.18
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is a representative case in comparative analysis?
A typical case that is 'undramatic', such as the coalition government in Finland.
p.33
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
Why is it important to have a representative sample in comparative research?
To ensure that findings are applicable to and representative of the broader population being studied.
p.18
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is an example of a sophisticated case?
The use of the internet in the US election campaigns.
p.30
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What voting trend was observed in the wealthiest states during the 2016 US presidential election?
They tended to vote for the Democratic candidate.
p.13
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
How does including more cases in analysis affect external validity?
The more cases included, the more representative the analysis and the more robust the overall result will be.
p.19
Logics and Methods of Comparison
How can researchers minimize error variance?
By increasing the number of cases studied.
p.28
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What role does globalization play in comparative research?
It can lead to policy diffusion, which may complicate comparisons.
p.18
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is a critical case?
A case that suggests if it works here, it will work almost anywhere, such as promoting democracy in Afghanistan.
p.9
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is the significance of theory in Comparative Politics?
Theory provides a framework for understanding and explaining political behavior.
p.22
Logics and Methods of Comparison
How does the MDSD help in comparative analysis?
By comparing countries with different characteristics to find common outcomes.
p.12
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What example is given to illustrate the relationship between welfare spending and political parties?
The type of ruling political party affects a country's welfare spending.
p.3
Subfields of Political Science
What are the three main subfields of Political Science?
Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and International Relations.
p.21
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does MSSD stand for?
Most Similar Systems Design.
p.27
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What are the three types of goals that political parties might pursue?
Vote-seeking (A), policy-seeking (C), and office-seeking (B).
p.26
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What does the Family Resemblance approach allow for in defining concepts?
It allows the concept to include actors with fewer characteristics in common, rather than requiring all characteristics to be present simultaneously.
p.13
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What does internal validity refer to in comparative research?
The degree to which inferences from a given set of cases are correct for most, if not all, the cases under inspection.
p.17
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What does a historical case study trace?
The process leading to a known outcome.
p.15
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What is the type of analysis often used when time and process development are crucial?
Longitudinal or historical analysis.
p.7
Comparative Analysis Techniques
What is a predictive aspect of Comparative Politics?
Assuming a factor leads to an outcome in one place, it predicts if the same outcome can occur in another place with the same factor.
p.24
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What is a potential limitation of Mill's logics in comparative research?
The actual cause might be a combination of various factors, not just one unique cause.
p.9
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What is a common method used in Comparative Politics?
Qualitative and quantitative analysis.
p.10
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
In the context of a theory, what does 'X' represent?
The independent variable.
p.30
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What question does the text raise regarding the voting behavior of wealthier and poorer individuals?
Does it indicate a shift in voting patterns or is it an example of the ecological fallacy?
p.16
Comparative Analysis Techniques
What is meant by a closed universe in research?
Focusing on relevant cases in relevant periods, like developments of dictatorship during the inter-war period.
p.16
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What does 'no interval' indicate in a study?
A design that does not consider time intervals in the analysis.
p.2
Definition of Comparative Politics
What is Comparative Politics?
A subfield of political science that involves the systematic study and comparison of political systems, institutions, and behaviors across different countries.
p.5
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What is the focus of the methodological study in Comparative Politics?
Establishing rules and standards for comparative analysis.
p.15
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What characterizes quantitative strategies in case selection?
They generally involve few variables and many cases (large-N).
p.25
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What are common concepts in political science that may undergo conceptual stretching?
'Democracy' and 'political parties'.
p.7
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What question does Comparative Politics seek to answer regarding political events?
Why does something happen here but not there?
p.27
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What does the radial categories method involve?
Identifying one characteristic as the essential attribute, with others considered secondary.
p.26
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What are some examples of combinations of characteristics allowed in the Family Resemblance approach?
(A, C), (B, C), and (A, B).
p.21
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What distinguishes country C from countries A and B in the MSSD framework?
Country C does not have a left-wing party government and has low welfare spending.
p.9
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What role do variables play in Comparative Politics?
Variables help in analyzing and comparing different political systems.
p.22
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does the method of agreement focus on?
Identifying commonalities among different cases.
p.24
Logics and Methods of Comparison
How should the rules of comparison be treated in research design?
As guidelines, acknowledging their limitations.
p.13
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What happens to internal validity if external validity increases?
Internal validity may decrease.
p.10
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is the role of 'Y' in a theory?
It is the phenomenon to be explained.
p.23
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What does covariance in the X → Y relation indicate?
It shows that the relation varies across the cases included.
p.16
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What does a time series study involve?
Analyzing one case over time, such as the development of a green party.
p.16
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What is a cross-section study?
Analyzing 'all' cases at one time point.
p.16
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What does 'many cases' refer to in research?
A study design that involves analyzing a large number of cases.
p.20
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What is the primary focus of the Method of Difference?
To compare cases that differ in values for Y or X while keeping other variables constant.
p.28
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is an example of Galton's problem in comparative research?
Comparing fiscal policies across states in Europe after the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) requirement.
p.25
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is a downside of making a concept more general?
It may compromise the quality of analysis and the validity of results.
p.9
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
Why is it important to consider context in Comparative Politics?
Context influences the outcomes and interpretations of political phenomena.
p.19
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What is the third goal in comparative research as per John S. Mill?
Control Extraneous Variance.
p.23
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What does the method of difference imply?
It examines cases where the relation between X and Y varies.
p.19
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What can omitted variables (Z) create in a study?
A spurious relationship that misleads the cause-effect understanding between X and Y.
p.16
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is a single-case study?
A study focusing on one case, such as a deviant or critical case.
p.16
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What does 'few cases' imply in research methodology?
A study design that focuses on a limited number of cases.
p.30
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What example illustrates the ecological fallacy in the text?
The voting patterns in the 2016 US presidential election.
p.18
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is an exemplary case?
A case that created the category, such as the British Parliament representing a 'parliamentary system'.
p.30
Common Fallacies in Comparative Analysis
What voting trend was observed in the poorest states during the 2016 US presidential election?
They tended to vote for the Republican candidate.
p.22
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What does it mean if a country is ethnically homogeneous in MDSD?
It means the country has a population with similar ethnic backgrounds.
p.9
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is a key challenge in Comparative Politics?
Dealing with the complexity and variability of political systems.
p.23
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What is a key characteristic of the X → Y relation in the method of agreement?
It remains constant across the cases.
p.16
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What are few intervals in research?
A study design that examines a limited number of time intervals.
p.32
Constraints and Limitations in Comparative Research
What is the relationship between average income and voting patterns?
There is a line through average income and vote, indicating a potential correlation.
p.18
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What characterizes a deviant case?
An exception to the rule, like India as a stable democracy in a developing country.
p.11
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is the independent variable in the proposed explanation for welfare spending?
The political control of the government (X), specifically if it is controlled by a left-wing party.
p.19
Logics and Methods of Comparison
What are extraneous variables in the context of comparative research?
Other potential influences on the relationship between X and Y.
p.16
Comparative Analysis Techniques
What does pooled analysis aim to achieve?
Maximizing cases across time and space.
p.12
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is the role of empirical data in testing a proposed explanation?
It serves as the evidence to test the explanation.
p.16
Case Selection in Comparative Research
What is the significance of studying a deviant case?
It helps to understand exceptions to general patterns in research.
p.23
Methodological Approaches in Comparative Politics
What does the method of agreement imply?
It examines cases where the relation between X and Y remains constant.
p.10
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
Why is it important to observe variables in different situations?
To understand the similarities and differences between observed phenomena.
p.12
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What can be assumed if there is a clear relationship between variations in X and Y?
Causality (i.e., X → Y) can be assumed.
p.12
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
Why is establishing strict causality in social science challenging?
Because of the complexity of 'X - Y' relationships.
p.12
Variables, Theory, and Evidence in Research
What is necessary for assuming causality in a relationship?
A clear and systematic relationship and a theory explaining it.
