APCOGOV CH1 Vocab

Comparative politics

the study and comparison of domestic politics across countries

Deductive reasoning

research that works from a hypothesis that is then tested against data

Area studies

A regional focus when studying political science, rather than studying parts of the world where similar variables are clustered

Multicausality

When variables are interconnected and interact to produce particular outcomes

Institution

organizations or activities that are self-perpetuating and valued for their own sake

International relations

concentrates on relations between countries like foreign policy, trade, war, and foreign aid

Game theory

an approach that emphasizes how actors or organizations behave in their goal to influence others; built upon assumptions of rational choice

Formal institutions

institutions based on officially sanctioned rules that are realtively clear

Qualitative model

an approach that is often narrowly focused, deep investigations of one or a few cases drawing from scholarly expertise

Dependent variable

a variable that depends on the influence of the independent variable

Politics

the struggle, in any group, for power that will allow a person or smaller group the power to make decisions for the rest of the group

Behavioral revolution

a movement within political science during the 1950s and 1960s to develop general theories about individual political behavior that could be applied across all countries

Modernization theory

a theory asserting that as societies developed, they would take on a set of common characteristics, including democracy and capitalism

Endogeneity

problem of distinguishing between the cause and effect

Rational choice

theory that assumes that everyone weighs the costs and benefits to make decisions that benefit them

Causal relationship

cause and effect; when a change in one variable causes change in another variable

Equality

a material standard of living shared by individuals within a community, society, or country

Independent variable

a variable whose value does not depend on that of another

Informal institutions

are unwritten and unofficial rules, but are equal of power to formal institutions

Correlation

an apparent relationship between two or more variables

Comparative method

the means by which social scientists make comparisons across cases

Power

the ability to influence others or impose one's will on them

Freedom

the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint

Inductive reasoning

research that works from case studies in order to generate hypotheses

Selection bias

a focus on effects rather than causes, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about correlation or causation

Theory

an integrated set of hypotheses, assumptions, and facts