Comparative Politics and Methodology
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of comparative politics?

  • Global economic policies
  • International political relations
  • Military strategies across different nations
  • Domestic politics and their patterns (correct)

    • Which approach involves the analysis of only one country in comparative politics?

  • Case study method
  • Quantitative approach
  • Cross-national approach
  • Single country analysis (correct)

    • What inherent question do comparativists seek to understand about authoritarian states?

  • How they maintain power indefinitely
  • What leads them to democratization (correct)
  • Why they always lead to economic prosperity
  • Why they have high rates of civil unrest

    • In what aspect are comparativists particularly interested regarding nation states?

    <p>The ideologies and dynamics within them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the comparative method primarily involve?

    <p>Comparing macro social units across cases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do citizens in democracies rely on elections and courts, according to comparativists?

    <p>To ensure political accountability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What types of political party strategies do comparativists observe?

    <p>The variability in policy programs and patronage systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do comparativists emphasize about historical experiences among cases?

    <p>They significantly shape current institutions and processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do comparativists assert about civil wars and revolutions?

    <p>They erupt under specific conditions that require analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What perspective do comparativists have on political representation in democracies?

    <p>Political representation can vary based on multiple factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major strength of the most similar approach in comparative analysis?

    <p>Findings seem applicable to various countries with diverse DV values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following weaknesses is associated with the most different approach?

    <p>Results cannot be applied to countries with the same DV value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the individualizing approach in comparative analysis?

    <p>Understand the unique characteristics of each individual case.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key advantage of the universalizing approach in comparative analysis?

    <p>It aims to suggest that every occurrence follows the same rule.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the variation finding approach?

    <p>It seeks to explore factors leading to differences or similarities across cases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a major strength of the most different approach allow researchers to do?

    <p>Generalize findings to a wide range of countries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes the main weakness of the most similar approach?

    <p>It limits generalization to countries with significantly different DVs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following aspects does the variation finding approach NOT specifically aim to investigate?

    <p>The singularity of each case.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of comparative analysis in examining case outcomes?

    <p>To understand how context affects the dependent variable across diverse cases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary disadvantage of using the Experimental Method in comparative research?

    <p>Experimental control is often unfeasible for many topics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the merit of using statistical methods in comparative analysis?

    <p>They assess rival explanations through statistical control.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately reflects a key weakness of the comparative method?

    <p>It provides a weaker basis for evaluating hypotheses than other methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does small-N analysis primarily contribute to research in comparative politics?

    <p>By allowing for intensive examination with limited resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following methods primarily allows for thick description in case studies?

    <p>Case study method.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common issue when using statistical methods in multi-country analysis?

    <p>They often lack sufficient time and access to collect data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of comparative analysis differentiates it from merely descriptive approaches?

    <p>It emphasizes understanding similarities and differences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might an analysis of too many cases lead to superficial findings?

    <p>It reduces the detailed context available for each case.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an inherent problem with the case study method regarding theory building?

    <p>It contributes less to building theory compared to methods with larger case numbers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does theory-testing primarily focus on?

    <p>Examining causal relationships among cases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect is emphasized in the contrast of contexts approach?

    <p>Demonstrating parallel processes of change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In comparative strategy, what does a Small-N study refer to?

    <p>Focusing on a small number of cases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of the parallel demonstration of theory?

    <p>To examine multiple cases to validate a particular model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is variable-oriented analysis focused on?

    <p>Determining characteristics to explain across multiple countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of cases does comparative research design involve selecting?

    <p>Cases that are most relevant to the theoretical framework</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are contexts defined in comparative research?

    <p>Uniquely shaped by history and culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of Large-N studies in comparative research?

    <p>They analyze many cases for statistical significance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following does not form part of the comparative strategy?

    <p>Interdisciplinary research</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which variable would most likely be examined in a variable-oriented analysis?

    <p>Economic performance across several nations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Comparative Politics and Methodology

    • Comparative politics is a subfield of political science focusing on domestic politics and analyzing patterns of similarities and differences between countries
    • It involves comparing domestic political systems, institutions, processes, policies, and conflicts across multiple countries
    • Comparative analysis can use a single country case study (qualitative) or multiple country analysis (quantitative)

    What Comparativists Study

    • Comparativists investigate why authoritarian states democratize
    • They examine the dynamics and ideologies of nation-states
    • They analyze conditions leading to civil wars and revolutions
    • They study how political representation operates in modern democracies
    • They explore the role of policy programs and patronage in political parties
    • They analyze how citizens use elections and courts to hold governments accountable
    • They analyze factors leading to success or failure of democratic governments

    Comparative Methodology

    • This methodology involves studying a limited number of cases to understand similarities and differences across macro social units.
    • Understanding outcomes and processes of these units, and exploring their significance for current institutions
    • Analyzing cross-societal patterns of similarities and differences is key.

    Comparative Method

    • It involves analysis of a small number of cases (at least 2), with observations that are insufficient for conventional statistical analysis.
    • Too many cases can lead to generalizations; hence focusing on a smaller number of cases may be better
    • Systematic analysis of a small number of cases (“small-N analysis”) is employed.

    Experimental Method

    • It is challenging to apply in comparative politics due to the issues of limitations in conducting experiments
    • Experimental control is rarely achievable in the study of political phenomena; therefore this method isn't widely used

    Statistical Methods

    • Statistical methods are often used in comparative studies across multiple countries to evaluate explanations of political phenomena.
    • Statistical control helps to analyze rival explanations and understand the relationship between variables.
    • Conducting statistical analysis requires a sufficient number of cases with adequate information, which is sometimes difficult to achieve

    Case Study Method

    • Case studies provide in-depth descriptions of individual countries
    • Analysis of multiple country cases using thick descriptions permits intensive examination; despite limited access to resources
    • This approach can contribute less to building theory than studies involving numerous cases.

    Comparing Countries: Approaches

    • Most Similar Systems: Countries are similar but have different outcomes. Researchers examine the factors that explain the differences.
    • Most Different Systems: Countries are very different, but have similar outcomes. Researchers look for common factors in these dissimilar cases.

    Comparative Analysis Types

    • Individualizing: Studies how specific countries differ from one another.
    • Universalizing: Studies the aspects common to all countries to find overarching principles and rules.

    Mixed Methods

    • Triangulation: Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to increase reliability and validity of results
    • Facilitation: Using one method to inform and generate hypotheses used by the other (qualitative informing quantitative)
    • Complementarity: Using different approaches in parallel or sequentially.

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    Lecture 1 12/5/2020: Introduction to Comparative Politics and Methodology PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the subfield of comparative politics, focusing on the analysis of domestic political systems and the patterns that emerge across different countries. From investigating why authoritarian regimes transition to democracy to analyzing electoral accountability, this quiz covers key themes and methodologies in the field. Test your knowledge on the critical aspects that comparativists study in political science.

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