Scope and Methods of Political ScienceDr. Rey Ty

Part IThe Scope of

Political Science

Scope of Political Science1. Political

Philosophy2. Political Science3. Values & Facts

Politics and Science1. Politics

a. Government b. Power c. Authority d. Conflict2. Science a. Systematic b. Scientific Method c. Describe & Explain

Politics and Science1. Politics

a. Government b. Power c. Authority d. Conflict2. Science a. Systematic b. Scientific Method c. Describe & Explain

Orientations in Political Science1. Political

Philosophy2. Political History3. Case Studies4. Political Institutions

5. Behavioralism: Psychology & Surveys

6. Post-Behavioralism: Policy Orientation

Part IIThe Scientific

Study of Politics

Is Political Science a Science?1. Yes, but…

2. Complex political phenomena

3. Human indeterminancy

4. Values5. Ethics vis-à-vis Science

Scientific Concept Formation1. Concepts & Language:

a. Logical & Descriptive; b. Universal Class & particular things

2. Operational Definition

3. Theories4. Classification5. Comparison6. Quantification7. Comparing Power8. Measuring Power

Generalizations1. Conditional

2. Empirical3. Scope4. Universal & Statistical5. Hypothesis & Laws6. Testing Hypothesis7. Causality

Explanation & Prediction1. Dispositional

Pattern2. Intentional Pattern

3. Rational Pattern4. Macro Pattern5. System-Maintaining Pattern

6. Genetic Pattern: If A then b; A, therefore B.

7. Combination

Theories & Models1.

Explanation2. Discovery

Part IIIApproaches to the

Study of Politics

Individualistic-Psychological Approaches1. Dispositional

Approaches2. Learning Theory3. Functionalist Approach to Attitude Formation4. Personality Theory5. Group Dispositions

Intentional Approaches1.

Rational Approach2. Game Theory

Economic Models of Politics1. Cost-

Benefit Analysis2. Exchange Theory: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Democratic Voting

Role Theory1. Role Theory2. Small Group Theory

Power Distribution Theory1. Group

Approach2. Elite Theory

Systems Theory1. Systems

Theory2. Functional Analysis3. Functional-Teleological Analysis

Communications Theory

Critical Reflection1. Q & A

2. Critique?3. Recommendations4. Further Discussion

Scope and Methods of Political ScienceDr. Rey Ty

ReferenceIsaak, A. C. (1985). Scope and Methods of Political Science. Homewood, IL: The Dorsey Press.

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