PLS 160 Lecture 3: Lecture 3 Notes 5 - 16 - 13.pdf
Document Summary
Rwandan genocide unique or similar to other genocides. We compare events to those that are similar. Comparison and generalization are contingent upon the factors surrounding an event; such as. X will occur only in situations where a,b, and c are also present. When developing theories, think about how an event fits into the larger scheme of things, think of a single event as a part of a larger pattern/group of events and theorize about what causes all of them. Use the past as a guide for making predictions bout the future, which is something a good theory will be able to do. Simplify reality by organizing the complexity of the world. Normative theories focus on how things should or ought to be. Empirical theories focus on what is , these are the theories we are primarily concerned with. Can explain and predict as much as possible with as few conditions as possible we call this parsimony.
