Political Behavior in Political Science

Introduction to Politics

• Politics depends on modes of thinking and investigation
• Epistemology is the nature of knowledge and its acquisition
• Positivism, constructivism, and interpretivism are approaches to understanding individuals and institutions
• Core concepts include empirical and rigorous use of data to support analysis
• Qualitative research groups similar data, quantitative uses statistics for analysis
• Science is a means to understand the knowable world, using a rigorous methodology
• The scientific method is objective and replicable, based on evidence, to explain relationships

What is Science?

• Science is a means to understand the world
• A core assumption is that the world is knowable and can be understood through a rigorous method
• The scientific method involves objective and replicable analysis of data.

What's Wrong with Common Sense?

• Common sense relies on logic and may be empirical, but has limitations due to inaccurate observation, overgeneralisation, and illogical reasoning
• The scientific method helps avoid these pitfalls.

Principle N.1

• The scientific method is an approach, not a tool
• Choices of tools can be subjective, leading to different conclusions
• Scientific study attempts to provide and accurate record of the world
• Objectivity requires minimizing the influence of prejudices and biases

Principle N.2

• The scientific method is a public procedure
• Scientific study must be transparent and replicable
• Transparency and replicability aim for objectivity in all forms of analysis

Principle N.3

• Scientific study involves a process of identifying and explaining relationships ("why do things happen?")
• Inferences are drawn appropriately from the results of the research
• Scientific debate has multiple epistemological, methodological, and technical dimensions
• It's not about correctness of ideas, but rather probabilistic statements

Scientific Study of Politics is Crucial

• Many political phenomena have multiple correct answers.
• A scientific approach helps evaluate potential answers.

What is Politics?

• Politics is a collective action-solution mechanism to a common good
• Politics is related to negotiation and compromise, and is distinct from domination
• Politics is about power's contests regarding resources to realise goals

Theory in the Social Sciences

• A theory is a set of related propositions that explain phenomena.
• Theories in social sciences help identify relationships, summarize existing work, and suggest future research directions.
• Theories are necessarily simplified models of reality.
• Theory's validity is determined by observation, tested against other competing theories.
• Theories are considered "strong" or "weak" and evolve over time.
• Theories highlight the importance of causality, seeking empirical support and developing models with causal implications.
• Causality is crucial to understand the relationships within a theory and not just the existence of correlations

Conceptualisation and Operationalisation

• Conceptual Congruence refers to the comparability of concepts across units of analysis.
• Conceptualization involves defining what is being measured, considering both connotation (characteristics) and denotation (objects).
• Operationalization involves specifying how concepts will be measured in a tangible way using accurate and reliable methods.

Political Ideologies

• Politics is ideologic in that certain ideas and values guide and shape understandings of politics.
• Ideologies structure worldviews, beliefs, and political action.
• Ideologies are presented as coherent sets of beliefs which guide and provide a structure to policy
• Left and right is a common ideological continuum
• Ideologies as cognitive schemas which offer similar or related beliefs about political phenomena
• Individual expressed views/behaviours can be similar/related in a meaningful manner
• Ideologies help individuals understand political reality and facilitate action

Ideology and Behaviour

• Less aware people are more likely rely on emotions to guide attitudes while more aware people refer to ideological principles.
• Intriguing people have more intense political ideologies that influence attitudes and opinions about political issues

Culture and the Individual

• Culture influences and shapes individual preferences towards political institutions.
• Individuals' values and preferences are exogenous to institutions.
• Preferences can be independent and persist through institutional change.
• Where do these preferences come from? How does culture interact with institutions in influencing political behaviours?

Analysing Political Behaviour

• Political behaviour includes values, attitudes, and opinions, which influence how people think and act politically.
• Values are enduring standards of what is desired or preferred, often related to an ideal.
• Attitudes are more specific to politics, based on a mix of values, emotions, education, and experiences.
• At some times, these are held loosely, indicating an immediate concern.
• Opinions tend to vary and are less stable, acting as indicators of policy support or dissatisfaction.

Democratic Political Culture

• A culture of participation is essential for maintaining stable democracies
• Cultures may vary in their norms for participation
• A culture of norms and values is crucial to a well-functioning democracy

Political Institutions

• Electoral and constitutional arrangements shape political behaviour.
• Party systems and political institutions shape interactions between citizen and the political system.
• Institutional arrangements are significant for determining how people participate politically.

Institutionalism and Culturalism

• Institutionalist approach examines how the 'rules of the game' shape political behavior.
• Culturalist approach focuses on values and attitudes in explaining political outcomes
• Both are important as individual values and institutions will strongly influence participation behaviors

Political Communication: Internet

• Internet and social media have affected political participation in Western democracies.
• Individuals are not passive consumers of information; they actively select the information they are most interested in.
• Information bubbles have arisen due to this
• Fake news and misinformation are important challenges to maintaining an informed democracy
• Citizens can now organise in different and sometimes less conventional ways.

Political Communication

• Social Media and Political Participation: How has the accessibility of social media altered engagement in politics
• Media and Politics: Can the media and news affect political opinions or behaviours?

Democracy and Globalization

• The expansion of free trade and markets on a global scale signifies a shift towards economic liberalization.
• The welfare state is an important issue in relation to public policy
• Concepts such as the "Tragedy of the Commons" help understand the importance of governance systems to prevent overuse of resources and the loss of the shared good.
• Global systems, like the EU, attempt to balance national interests and global responsibilities.
• Globalisation's effects on institutions, cultural change, and economic growth are critical areas of study.

This quiz explores key concepts related to political behavior, including political attitudes, values, and operationalization in political science. Test your understanding of how opinions are formed and the challenges within the field. Dive into the theories that underpin the dynamics of democracy and political regimes.