PSCI 2701 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Method, Exact Sciences, Research
30 May 2017
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Document Summary
Study of a state and how to govern. In order to understand how to govern. Classical period deductive rasoning , from general to more specific. Institutional period descriptive research political institutions and processes. The behavioral revolution-> behaviour of individual political actors. All of them have different epistemology and ontology. Epistemology: each period of political analysis represents shift in the way which knowledge about political world is obtained . Ontology: a shift in some of the underlying assumptions about how the political world actually works . Normative analysis: form of analysis that is assumption based, addresses how society and political life should be . Empirical analysis: reliance on observation of the real world to test theories and gain knowledge . Factual evidence gathered from physical and social worlds. Descriptive and fact-based eg (exercise and diet will improve your health) Need both because you can"t just depend on empirical, it"s not an exact science.
