POLI 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Intersubjectivity, Scientific Method, Operationalization
3 Dec 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
An aim of the scientific approach to politics is to use critical thought as a guide to our perceptions in politics. The scientific study of politics tries to provide a method where the observations made can be independent of the observer. Helps determining why and when political perceptions are different. The scientific method often referred to as positivism: philosophical position that states that scientific approach is the best way to gain knowledge. But we can make generalizations, can see patterns in human behaviour. but sometimes no pattern at all: not all aspects of reality can be empirically measured. Measurement validity: the event to which the measurement of a particular concept matches its operational definition: question the objectivity of the scientific method. Normative focuses on philosophies, norms, how things ought to be, uses logic, persuasion, it is value-based. Empirical is how things are, focuses on measurement and observation, collects evidence from the real world and uses scientific method.
