POLSCI 1AB3 Lecture 1: Introduction
11 Apr 2018
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Scientific method: form a hypothesis, test the hypothesis. The scientific method in the social sciences: establish hypothesis, using the existing literature, using an exploratory case study, test your hypothesis. Think about and hopefully rule out other variablesthat might be responsible for the phenomenon/event you are interested in explaining. It s complicated because our variables are surrounded by more variables. Some options using the comparative method: most similar systems study. Take two states with an independent variable (almost exactly alike minus one variable that could be the cause: most different systems study. Take two states that have nothing in common, but one thing (i. e the independent variable) Some options using single cases: most likely case (outlier) Usually used to prove something is not true: least likely case study.
