PSCI 2701 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Discourse Analysis, Deductive Reasoning, David Easton
3 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
Based descriptions of democracy on observations of regimes in. Positivist model: based on objective, observable phenomena that are studied using methods drawn from physical sciences. Rational choice theory, institutional theories: holds that knowledge and explanation can only be derived from understanding values and belief which shape perceptions/interpretations associated with particular behaviours, e. g. The classical period (ancient greeks 18th century: based on deductive reasoning, arguing from general premise to more. Based prescriptions for exercise of power on observations of. The institutional period (1880"s, mainly in america: based on descriptive research, emphasis on legally constituted governments, concerned with describing political institutions and processes. Institutions were independent variables: tended to be normative and prescriptive. Underlying assumption that liberal democracies were the most effective/developed form of government. The behavioural revolution: emerged from discontent with the focus on the formal legal analysis of the state as the be all and end all .
