POLS 2503 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Scientific Method, German Idealism, Postpositivism

• School: Temple University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 2503
• Professor: Sanjeevini B.Lokhande

Document Summary

Science and scientific research: must contribute to a body of science, must follow the scientific method. Types of science: natural science the study of naturally occurring objects or phenomena, social science the study of people or collections of people (has a higher degree of measurement error than natural science) Scientific knowledge a generalized body of laws and theories to explain a phenomenon or behavior of interest: laws observed patterns of phenomena or behaviors, theories systematic explanations of the underlying phenomenon or behavior. Social science theories are imperfect and meant to be improved: two sets of required skills: theoretical skills and methodological skills. Scientific method a standardized set of techniques for building scientific knowledge. Types of research: exploratory research conducted in new areas of inquiry, descriptive research careful observations and detailed documentation of a phenomenon of interest, explanatory research explanations of observed phenomena, problems, or behavior.