CCSS4038 Lecture 02 Comparative Approach_64cc4f398a7c7bf1afe6ab6dd9490e28

The explanatory factor or the most likely cause.

To analyze and compare political systems, behaviors, and institutions across different countries.

Qualitative strategies and quantitative strategies.

By employing systematic comparison across numerous cases.

Overt support for democracy at the individual level is not a reliable measure of democratic institutions at the societal level.

51st.

Define the research question or hypothesis.

The number of observations, whether large - N (many observations) or small - N (few observations).

By formulating hypotheses and using empirical data to test them.

It mainly meant the study of political systems outside the US, often analyzed in isolation.

As an empirical and value-neutral subfield that seeks to answer questions like 'Why do people participate in politics?'

Holistic comparison of two or more cases.

Establish classifications and typologies by dividing political phenomena into groups with common attributes.

How comparative analyses should be conducted.

Maximize Experimental Variance.

Choosing cases that are relevant and comparable.

"X → Y" applies to the country cases (A, B, C, D & E) being studied.

A subfield of Political Science that focuses on comparing political systems, institutions, and processes.

National and non-national political systems.

Exploring interactions within political systems and power relationships between individuals and groups.

No, the list is formulated based on theory about likely causes of the effects.

Distortion of the concept when applied to cases where its features may not fit.

It can confound the relationship between dependent and independent variables, hindering valid conclusions.

The extent to which the results of the comparative research can be valid for other similar cases not included in the research.

Minimize Error Variance.

An in-depth analysis of the political system within a specific country outside your home country.

They tend to vote Republican.

They typically involve many variables and few cases (small-N, less than 10 or 15).

The process of extending concepts to apply to other contexts, increasing observations across more cases.

Interactions between different political systems, addressing issues like balance of power, war, and trade.

Independent countries recognized by international law.

Time.

57.9%.

It emphasizes comparing cases to identify consistent relationships between the dependent variable (Y) and the independent variable (X), even as other variables vary.

Whether X accounts for changes in Y.

40.9%.

Democratic, hybrid, and authoritarian regimes.

Identification and explanation of similarities and differences between countries, their institutions, actors, processes, and outcomes.

An intensive study of a single instance with wider significance.

The existence of a list of potential causes to consider.

Statistical assessments of the relationships between variables.

It refers to the potential influence of an exogenous factor common to all cases selected for comparison.

It does not necessarily reflect a deep commitment to crucial democratic norms.

That there is only one unique cause of the effect among the factors considered.

By making the concept less specific or 'thinner'.

Countries that are similar in many aspects but differ in one or more key variables.

If the government of a country is controlled by a left-wing party, then its welfare spending will likely exceed 15% of its GDP.

Welfare spending (Y).

Historically, wealthier individuals have tended to vote Republican.

Dr. NG, Tsz Fung Kenneth.

Family Resemblance and Radial Categories.

Units of observation that are to be compared, such as countries.

As any actor that is vote-seeking (A), office-seeking (B), and policy-seeking (C).

The method of difference.

It may not provide accurate insights into the characteristics of all democracies, as it excludes non-English-speaking democracies.

It occurs when aggregate-level data is used to make inferences about individual or group-level behavior.

Comparative Politics explores interactions within political systems, while International Relations focuses on interactions between different political systems.

A case expected to become typical of the category.

Why do some countries spend more than 15% of their GDP on welfare provisions while others spend 15% or less?

Most Different Systems Design.

A relationship between two real-world phenomena.

Selecting cases that are similar on features but not part of the X → Y relation.

It may lead to a more coherent and solid conclusion for the set of cases included, enhancing internal validity.

Which cases are most suitable for comparison and how many cases should be selected?

They tend to vote Democrat.

Causal relationships between variables.

Looking solely at the average wealth of each state.

It can lead to misleading results.

Both have a left-wing party government, are ethnically homogeneous, have a parliamentary system, and high welfare spending.

States in the US.

Most Similar Systems Design.

To bridge theory and evidence.

(A+B) and (A+C).

The Method of Agreement looks for consistent relationships between Y and X across varying cases, while the Method of Difference compares cases with differing values for Y or X.

The choice for a Westminster style of parliamentary governance in former British colonies.

Structure of institutions, policies, and finances of political parties.

A concept that can be systematically observed and measured in various situations.

CCSS40 38.

It occurs when the samples used for analysis are not representative or when proper data randomization is not achieved.

It describes similarities and differences in the political world.

The selection of cases with no variation on the dependent variable, making it impossible to learn about the causes of that variable.

The 'voter' or 'party' within the case.

It focuses on comparing cases with differing values for either the dependent variable (Y) or the independent variable (X), while maintaining a constant context and covariation between Y and X.

The latter (individual wealth influencing voting).

Methods include case studies, statistical analysis, and comparative historical analysis.

A comparative method based on the logic of the method of agreement.

Regions, EU, empires.

It indicates that the country has a left-wing party in government.

Selecting cases that are dissimilar on many features but not part of the X → Y relation.

It indicates the type of governance structure in the country.

It suggests a significant investment in social welfare programs.

To provide explanations.

Normative and theoretical questions, such as 'Why should people participate in politics?'

It occurs when data measured at the individual or group level is interpreted as if it represents the whole.

It focuses on understanding political phenomena, analyzing political systems, and comparing political institutions and processes.

It helps to identify patterns, test theories, and understand the complexities of political dynamics in various contexts.

A typical case that is 'undramatic', such as the coalition government in Finland.

To ensure that findings are applicable to and representative of the broader population being studied.

The use of the internet in the US election campaigns.

They tended to vote for the Democratic candidate.

The more cases included, the more representative the analysis and the more robust the overall result will be.

By increasing the number of cases studied.

It can lead to policy diffusion, which may complicate comparisons.

A case that suggests if it works here, it will work almost anywhere, such as promoting democracy in Afghanistan.

Theory provides a framework for understanding and explaining political behavior.

By comparing countries with different characteristics to find common outcomes.

The type of ruling political party affects a country's welfare spending.

Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and International Relations.

Most Similar Systems Design.

Vote-seeking (A), policy-seeking (C), and office-seeking (B).

It allows the concept to include actors with fewer characteristics in common, rather than requiring all characteristics to be present simultaneously.

The degree to which inferences from a given set of cases are correct for most, if not all, the cases under inspection.

The process leading to a known outcome.

Longitudinal or historical analysis.

2nd.

Assuming a factor leads to an outcome in one place, it predicts if the same outcome can occur in another place with the same factor.

The actual cause might be a combination of various factors, not just one unique cause.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis.

(A+B+C).

The independent variable.

Does it indicate a shift in voting patterns or is it an example of the ecological fallacy?

Focusing on relevant cases in relevant periods, like developments of dictatorship during the inter-war period.

A design that does not consider time intervals in the analysis.

A subfield of political science that involves the systematic study and comparison of political systems, institutions, and behaviors across different countries.

Establishing rules and standards for comparative analysis.

They generally involve few variables and many cases (large-N).

'Democracy' and 'political parties'.

Why does something happen here but not there?

Identifying one characteristic as the essential attribute, with others considered secondary.

(A, C), (B, C), and (A, B).

Country C does not have a left-wing party government and has low welfare spending.

Variables help in analyzing and comparing different political systems.

Identifying commonalities among different cases.

As guidelines, acknowledging their limitations.

Internal validity may decrease.

It is the phenomenon to be explained.

It shows that the relation varies across the cases included.

Analyzing one case over time, such as the development of a green party.

Analyzing 'all' cases at one time point.

A study design that involves analyzing a large number of cases.

Vote-seeking (A).

To compare cases that differ in values for Y or X while keeping other variables constant.

Comparing fiscal policies across states in Europe after the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) requirement.

It may compromise the quality of analysis and the validity of results.

Context influences the outcomes and interpretations of political phenomena.

Control Extraneous Variance.

It examines cases where the relation between X and Y varies.

A spurious relationship that misleads the cause-effect understanding between X and Y.

A study focusing on one case, such as a deviant or critical case.

A study design that focuses on a limited number of cases.

The voting patterns in the 2016 US presidential election.

A case that created the category, such as the British Parliament representing a 'parliamentary system'.

They tended to vote for the Republican candidate.

It means the country has a population with similar ethnic backgrounds.

Dealing with the complexity and variability of political systems.

It remains constant across the cases.

A study design that examines a limited number of time intervals.

There is a line through average income and vote, indicating a potential correlation.

An exception to the rule, like India as a stable democracy in a developing country.

The political control of the government (X), specifically if it is controlled by a left-wing party.

Other potential influences on the relationship between X and Y.

Maximizing cases across time and space.

The dependent variable.

It serves as the evidence to test the explanation.

It helps to understand exceptions to general patterns in research.

It examines cases where the relation between X and Y remains constant.

Comparative methods.

To understand the similarities and differences between observed phenomena.

Causality (i.e., X → Y) can be assumed.

Because of the complexity of 'X - Y' relationships.

A clear and systematic relationship and a theory explaining it.