POL222H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Paradigm Shift, Negative Relationship
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Political science is about the scientific study of social phenomena. Theory is a tentative conjecture about causes of phenomenon. Theory-based statement about a relationship we expect to observe --> test to see if true/false. Causal theory --> hypothesis --> empirical test --> evaluation of hypothesis --> evaluation of theory --> scientific knowledge. Theory is never proven --> there is always new evidence to disprove. If there is a major problem with a paradigm = revolutionary period. 1944 study in ohio found that individuals are not influenced by presidential campaigns. 1. 3: thinking about the world in terms of variables. Variable values : denominations in which variable occurs. Theory is a conjecture that independent variable is causally related to dependent. 1. 5 : rules of the road to scientific knowledge about politics. Covariation : 2 variables vary together --> covariation is not the same as a causal relationship. Theories should not be only from observations think about underlying causal processes.
