Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
C O N C EP TS A N D
TH EO R IES IN
P O LITIC A L S C IEN C E
Application
1. David Collier and Steven Levitsky. 1997.
Democracy with Adjectives: Conceptual Innovation in Comparative Research. World Politics, Vol. 49, No. 3 (Apr.,
1997), pp. 430-451.
B. Theory Construction (September 21, 23)
1. Gerring (Chapters 5-7)
2. King, Keohane and Verba (Chapters 2-3)
Applications
1. Zeev Maoz; Bruce Russett, Normative and Structural Causes of Democratic Peace, 1946-1986. The American
Political Science Review, Vol. 87, No. 3. (Sep., 1993), pp. 624-638. (JSTOR)
2. Zilber and Niven. 1995.
Black versus African-American: Are Whites Political Attitudes Influenced by the Choice of Racial Labels? Social
Science Quarterly 76: 655-664.
3. William H. Riker; Peter C. Ordeshook, A Theory of the Calculus of Voting. The American Political Science
Review, Vol. 62, No. 1. (Mar., 1968), pp. 25-42.
Concepts
Definitions
an abstraction; a representation of an
Concepts
Definitions
an abstraction; a representation of an
Concepts
Functions of Concepts
communication
allow classification and generalization
*components of theories*
G erring (p.38)
Large-order concepts comprise the
Coherence
Internal coherence
External differentiation
Ease of Operationalization
Operationalization = The task of
Concept Validity
The degree of alignment between a
Resonance
clarity
Try to use words that are commonly
used/understood
Avoid inventing new terms if possible,
but if necessary do so
Contextual Range
Conceptual breadth the more
Parsimony
Good concepts do not have endless
definitions
Analytic/Empirical Utility
The degree to which the concept fits the
Field Utility
The extent to which a given concept
Definition
Referents
Alternative D efi
nitions ofSocialM ovem ent
a collectivity acting with some continuity to
Alternative D efi
nitions ofSocialM ovem ent
a sustained series of interactions
Concept D efi
nition
Briefly provide a conceptual
Typology
Location
Subject Matter
Subject(s)
Function
Motivation
Ideal-Type D efi
nition
(what to do?)
rule
Democratic state
Advantages:
Additional analytic category to increase
differentiation
Helps avoid conceptual stretching
Theory
What is theory?
Considerable disagreement
Some define as virtually any form of
conceptualization
Others (most?) have a higher threshold
Theory
A theory is a reasoned and precise
Theory
A set of assumptions involving a set of
Theory
A theory is used to generate one or
Types ofTheory
Different purposes (Gerring)
Generalization
abstracts from the immediate and observable
facts of the case
Classification
Mutual exclusivity
Exhaustiveness
Comparability
Prediction
Covariation
Priority
Causal Inference
D escriptive Theory
Ad Hoc / Taxonomy
place observations into categories
D escriptive Theory
Conceptual frameworks
take taxonomies/typologies one step
Conceptualfram ew orks
(exam ples)
Barbers presidential character
Role Conception: Active / Passive
Personality: Positive / Negative
CausalTheory
Requires at least two variables
A dependent (outcome) variable (usually
Y)
One or more independent (explanatory)
variables (usually X)
X causes Y
CausalTheory
Defining cause:
From KKV:
CausalTheory
Defining cause:
From KKV:
CausalTheory
Theoretical Systems combine a set
of assumptions/propositions that
logically (by deduction) lead to
empirical propositions/predictions
(hypotheses)
provide causal explanation
CausalTheory
Axiomatic Theory
1. set of concepts and definitions (conceptual and
operational)
2. set of statements describing the situations in
which the theory can be applied
3. set of relational statements, divided into
Axioms (assumed)
Theorems (deduced, testable)
CausalTheory
Social scientists generally regard
theoretical systems (and axiomatic
theory) as the highest/most desirable
form of theory.
However, social scientists (political
scientists) rarely construct theories in
such a formal manner.
Typical theory in political science
literature:
Set of concepts
Set of interrelated assumptions
Hypotheses (testable propositions) derived
from assumptions
CausalCom plexity
Linear relationships
Non-linear relationships
Asymmetric relationships
Multiple causality
Conditional relationships
propositions:
1. Specification
2. Accuracy
3. Precision
4. Breadth
5. Depth
6. Parsimony
7. Analytic Utility
8. Innovation
9.Intelligibility
10. Relevance
Max Weber
social phenomena must be explained by
showing how they result from individual
actions
Theoretical explanation must reference the
intentional states that motivate the individual
actors
claims that explanations of macro social
phenomena must be supplied with micro
foundations
Exam ple
Robert Dahls theory of pluralism
consistent
3. Select dependent variables
carefully
4. Maximize concreteness
5. State theories in as encompassing
ways as feasible
distinctiveness of X and Y
Example:
Sample: members of Congress
Y = vote on tax increases
X = ideology of member
Possible Justifi
cations for Your
Research
New question, new theory
New question, existing theory
Old question, new theory
Old question, conflicting theories
Old question, conflicting findings
Old question, new methods
Old question, new data
of article summaries
Dont provide every detail of every
study
Literature Review D os
Organize your discussion of the
presentation)
journals
Recently published articles
Seminal articles
authors