POLS 242 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Operationalization, Comparative Politics, Dependent And Independent Variables
17 Jan 2017
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Asking why, research questions in comparative politics. Subfield of political science that uses the comparative method to analyze multiple case studies. Contrast with who, what, where, when questions. Consider the questions: why are some countries democratic and others are not. Looks at how variables interact in those cases. Variable: element or factor that can change, or vary, from case to case. Why did modern states emerge and grow? (ch. 3) Why are some countries rich and others poor? (ch. 4,5) Why are some countries democracies and others not? (ch. 6,7) What are effects of different institutions? (chapters 8-11) Why do identities and beliefs matter? (chapters 13-14) Why do ideology & religion affect modern politics? (chapter 15) Emphasis on questions of cause (why) and effect. Answers often include saying who, what, when, where, how. Make this question specific to case(s) to research. Why is ghana a democracy and togo not? questions can generate debate about what are the best answers.
