Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the definition of a variable in political analysis?
What is the definition of a variable in political analysis?
Which of the following best describes nominal measurement?
Which of the following best describes nominal measurement?
What does the term 'dimensions of a concept' refer to?
What does the term 'dimensions of a concept' refer to?
Interval measurement differs from ordinal measurement in that:
Interval measurement differs from ordinal measurement in that:
Signup and view all the answers
What can be said about ordinal measurement?
What can be said about ordinal measurement?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary purpose of a measure in political analysis?
What is the primary purpose of a measure in political analysis?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about concept measurement is false?
Which of the following statements about concept measurement is false?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement is true regarding the characteristics of dimensions of a concept?
Which statement is true regarding the characteristics of dimensions of a concept?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key assumption made when using adjustment to conclude that X causes Y?
What is a key assumption made when using adjustment to conclude that X causes Y?
Signup and view all the answers
Which approach provides higher internal validity but sacrifices external validity due to requiring very similar cases?
Which approach provides higher internal validity but sacrifices external validity due to requiring very similar cases?
Signup and view all the answers
In a natural experiment, what is a critical characteristic that enhances internal validity?
In a natural experiment, what is a critical characteristic that enhances internal validity?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a main drawback of using difference in difference as a causal inference method?
What is a main drawback of using difference in difference as a causal inference method?
Signup and view all the answers
Which method is noted for having low external validity due to cases with randomized causes being rare?
Which method is noted for having low external validity due to cases with randomized causes being rare?
Signup and view all the answers
What factor limits the external validity of the same case over time approach?
What factor limits the external validity of the same case over time approach?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a notable limitation of the adjustment approach in causal inference?
What is a notable limitation of the adjustment approach in causal inference?
Signup and view all the answers
Which causal inference approach minimizes assumptions about confounding variables while maintaining low external validity?
Which causal inference approach minimizes assumptions about confounding variables while maintaining low external validity?
Signup and view all the answers
What differentiates sampling error from measurement error?
What differentiates sampling error from measurement error?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the fundamental problem of causal inference imply?
What does the fundamental problem of causal inference imply?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term refers to the conditions or outcomes a case would experience if the cause were not present?
Which term refers to the conditions or outcomes a case would experience if the cause were not present?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes internal validity?
Which of the following best describes internal validity?
Signup and view all the answers
How do internal and external validity relate to each other?
How do internal and external validity relate to each other?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'Y - Y' represent in the context of causal inference?
What does 'Y - Y' represent in the context of causal inference?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a factual outcome for a case?
Which of the following is a factual outcome for a case?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'potential outcomes' signify in causal inference?
What does the term 'potential outcomes' signify in causal inference?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the comparative method predict about cases with the same relevant respects except for value X?
What does the comparative method predict about cases with the same relevant respects except for value X?
Signup and view all the answers
What is indicated by a p value in the context of statistical significance?
What is indicated by a p value in the context of statistical significance?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement describes spurious correlation?
Which statement describes spurious correlation?
Signup and view all the answers
Which method involves identifying and measuring all confounding variables?
Which method involves identifying and measuring all confounding variables?
Signup and view all the answers
What correctly describes the effect of an antecedent variable on variables X and Y?
What correctly describes the effect of an antecedent variable on variables X and Y?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of conditioning in relation to spurious correlation?
What is the purpose of conditioning in relation to spurious correlation?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of correlation is characterized by values of X and Y moving in opposite directions?
Which type of correlation is characterized by values of X and Y moving in opposite directions?
Signup and view all the answers
What do design-based solutions primarily focus on regarding confounding variables?
What do design-based solutions primarily focus on regarding confounding variables?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines a strong correlation?
What defines a strong correlation?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is true about randomization as a method for dealing with spurious correlation?
Which of the following is true about randomization as a method for dealing with spurious correlation?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes a dependent variable?
Which of the following best describes a dependent variable?
Signup and view all the answers
What does reliability in measurement refer to?
What does reliability in measurement refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of error does measurement bias refer to?
What type of error does measurement bias refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
Which factor does random sampling primarily eliminate?
Which factor does random sampling primarily eliminate?
Signup and view all the answers
How can one improve random sampling error?
How can one improve random sampling error?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines upward bias in measurement?
What defines upward bias in measurement?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of a ratio variable?
What is an example of a ratio variable?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is true about validity in measurement?
Which of the following is true about validity in measurement?
Signup and view all the answers
What source of error is associated with random sampling?
What source of error is associated with random sampling?
Signup and view all the answers
Which variable captures the purported cause in a causal claim?
Which variable captures the purported cause in a causal claim?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes random measurement error from measurement bias?
What distinguishes random measurement error from measurement bias?
Signup and view all the answers
Sampling bias occurs when:
Sampling bias occurs when:
Signup and view all the answers
How does upward bias affect measurement results?
How does upward bias affect measurement results?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following most accurately defines measurement error?
Which of the following most accurately defines measurement error?
Signup and view all the answers
Flashcards
Variable
Variable
A measurable characteristic of something (person, group, event) that can change.
Measure
Measure
A way to determine how much of a concept applies to a specific example based on observations.
Dimensions of a Concept
Dimensions of a Concept
The different parts or aspects of a larger concept that stand alone.
Nominal Measurement
Nominal Measurement
Signup and view all the flashcards
Ordinal Measurement
Ordinal Measurement
Signup and view all the flashcards
Interval Measurement
Interval Measurement
Signup and view all the flashcards
Concept
Concept
Signup and view all the flashcards
Four Levels of Measurement
Four Levels of Measurement
Signup and view all the flashcards
Ratio
Ratio
Signup and view all the flashcards
Independent Variable
Independent Variable
Signup and view all the flashcards
Dependent Variable
Dependent Variable
Signup and view all the flashcards
Validity
Validity
Signup and view all the flashcards
Reliability
Reliability
Signup and view all the flashcards
Measurement Error
Measurement Error
Signup and view all the flashcards
Measurement Bias
Measurement Bias
Signup and view all the flashcards
Upward Bias
Upward Bias
Signup and view all the flashcards
Downward Bias
Downward Bias
Signup and view all the flashcards
Random Measurement Error
Random Measurement Error
Signup and view all the flashcards
Population
Population
Signup and view all the flashcards
Sample
Sample
Signup and view all the flashcards
Sampling
Sampling
Signup and view all the flashcards
Random Sampling
Random Sampling
Signup and view all the flashcards
Sampling Error
Sampling Error
Signup and view all the flashcards
Adjustment
Adjustment
Signup and view all the flashcards
Similar Cases
Similar Cases
Signup and view all the flashcards
Same Case Over Time
Same Case Over Time
Signup and view all the flashcards
Difference in Difference
Difference in Difference
Signup and view all the flashcards
Natural Experiment
Natural Experiment
Signup and view all the flashcards
Internal Validity
Internal Validity
Signup and view all the flashcards
External Validity
External Validity
Signup and view all the flashcards
Tradeoff Between Internal and External Validity
Tradeoff Between Internal and External Validity
Signup and view all the flashcards
Counterfactual Prediction
Counterfactual Prediction
Signup and view all the flashcards
Comparative Method
Comparative Method
Signup and view all the flashcards
Correlation
Correlation
Signup and view all the flashcards
Positive Correlation
Positive Correlation
Signup and view all the flashcards
Negative Correlation
Negative Correlation
Signup and view all the flashcards
Spurious Correlation
Spurious Correlation
Signup and view all the flashcards
Confounding Variable
Confounding Variable
Signup and view all the flashcards
Intervening Variable
Intervening Variable
Signup and view all the flashcards
Antecedent Variable
Antecedent Variable
Signup and view all the flashcards
Fundamental Problem of Causal Inference
Fundamental Problem of Causal Inference
Signup and view all the flashcards
Potential Outcomes
Potential Outcomes
Signup and view all the flashcards
Why are counterfactual outcomes from the same sample?
Why are counterfactual outcomes from the same sample?
Signup and view all the flashcards
Internal and External Validity Relationship
Internal and External Validity Relationship
Signup and view all the flashcards
Causal Effect for Each Case
Causal Effect for Each Case
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
Concepts
- An abstract definition for characteristics of or types of phenomena, groups, or individuals.
Variables
- A measurable property of a phenomenon, group, or person that can take on different values.
- Derived to capture a concept.
- Variation across cases or over time.
Measures
- A procedure for determining the degree to which a concept applies to specific cases based on observations.
Dimensions of a Concept
- "Sub-concepts"
- Intrinsic parts/components of a concept that are independent of one another.
- These components are neither causes nor consequences of the concept.
Four Levels of Measurement
Nominal
- Categorical in nature.
- Places cases into discrete groups based on the presence or absence of an attribute.
- No category is ranked higher or lower than another.
- Categories are exhaustive.
- Examples: religion, political affiliation, type of electoral system, occupation.
Ordinal
- Categorical in nature.
- Categories are ranked, and may have a numerical value assigned.
- The intervals between categories are not meaningful.
- Relative, not absolute.
- Examples: university rankings, test scores, levels of education, ideology.
Interval
- Numerical in nature.
- Intervals between values are meaningful and consistent.
- Differences in values indicate the magnitude of difference between cases.
- No meaningful zero point.
Ratio
- Numerical in nature.
- Zero is meaningful (absence of something).
- Examples: years, scores, temperature (Celsius), years since an event.
Independent Variable
- A variable that captures the purported cause of the causal claim (X).
Dependent Variable
- A variable that captures the purported outcome of the causal claim (Y).
Validity
- How well a measurement captures a concept.
- A variable/measure has validity when it accurately reflects the concept it's meant to capture.
- Lack of validity may mean the measure captures too much or too little of the concept or captures different things across cases.
Reliability
- How consistently a measurement procedure produces the same result when repeated for the same case.
- A reliable measure produces consistent results.
- Reliability can be affected by researcher interpretation, measurement imprecision, or instability over time.
Measurement Error
- Refers to weak validity or weak reliability.
- Two types: systematic measurement error (bias) and random measurement error.
Measurement Bias (Systematic Measurement Error)
- Error produced when the measurement procedure obtains scores that are, on average, too high or too low.
- Can be upward (values are consistently too high) or downward (values are consistently too low).
Random Measurement Error
- Measurement error that derives from random features of the measurement process or phenomenon.
- Results in values that are too high or too low due to chance.
Sampling
- A population is the full set of cases.
- A sample is a subset of the population that is observed and measured.
- Inferences are the descriptions made about the broader population based on the sample.
- Random samples provide equal probability of selection for all cases.
Sampling Error
- Error that arises from the random process of selecting samples.
- Becomes smaller as the sample size increases.
- Sampling bias occurs when the sampling frame differs from the population being studied and the sample doesn't represent the population proportionally.
Measurement Error vs. Sampling Error
- Measurement error occurs when the way cases are observed in the study doesn't accurately describe the broader world.
- Sampling error occurs when the cases studied differ from the population the study seeks to understand.
Fundamental Problem of Causal Inference
- The inability to observe the counterfactual (what would have happened if the causal variable had taken a different value for a given case).
Correlation
- Empirical prediction of a causal claim that correlation tests: If X→ Y (or X causes Y), then X and Y will be correlated.
- Negative correlation: X and Y values move in opposite directions.
- Positive correlation: X and Y values move in the same direction.
- Strong correlation: values closely cluster around the line.
- Weak correlation: values are not closely clustered.
Spurious Correlation
- When two variables appear correlated but the correlation is not a result of a causal relationship.
- Often due to a confounding variable that affects both variables.
Solutions to Spurious Correlation
- Adjustment, similar/same cases over time, difference-in-differences, natural experiments.
- Each approach attempts to control for the effects of confounding variables to determine if a correlation is spurious or causal.
Internal validity
- Degree to which a study accurately measures the causal relationship within the context of the study.
External Validity
- Degree to which the study's causal relationship can be generalized beyond the specific context of the study.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.