Comparative Political Analysis and Research Methods Free Online FlashCards

What is comparative political analysis?

Comparative political analysis systematically studies similarities and differences among countries, governments, institutions, political behaviors, and public policies.

How do descriptive and causal comparisons differ?

Descriptive comparison asks how cases differ; causal comparison asks why they differ and requires variables, controls, and a plausible mechanism.

What are independent, dependent, and control variables?

The independent variable is the possible cause, the dependent variable is the outcome, and control variables are alternative explanations considered in the analysis.

What is a most-similar systems design?

A most-similar systems design compares cases alike in important ways but different in the outcome, helping control for alternative explanations.

What is a most-different systems design?

A most-different systems design compares cases that differ in many ways but share an outcome, seeking a common factor that may explain it.

What is selection bias in comparative research?

Selection bias occurs when cases are chosen because they support a preferred conclusion rather than according to a defensible research design.

What is conceptualization?

Conceptualization specifies what an abstract concept includes and excludes, making its meaning clear before it is measured.

What is operationalization?

Operationalization translates an abstract concept into observable indicators, such as turnout for participation or judicial independence for rule of law.

What does validity mean in measurement?

Validity is the extent to which an indicator measures the intended concept rather than something else.

How do de jure and de facto institutions differ?

De jure institutions are rules on paper; de facto institutions describe how those rules operate in practice.

What is measurement equivalence?

Measurement equivalence is the effort to ensure that the same question or indicator has the same meaning across countries.

How do policy outputs, outcomes, and impacts differ?

A policy output is a government action or service delivered; an outcome is a resulting change in behavior or conditions; an impact is a broader effect.