1. Social Science Methods Political Science  study of who gets what, when and how. Political Science compares characteristics of people, events, institutions as variables to find relationships between them.

2. Scientific Method Theory Hypothesis Methodology – observations and measurements Testing hypothesis State findings Feedback

3. Theory Theory – an abstract way of thinking using imagination to explain how things work. Good theories: –Specifies one or a few generalized relationships –Applies to a broad range of objects or situations –States concepts and the relationships between them –Provides logic for the expected relationships –A Good theory is NOT: describing reality in complete detail

4. Hypothesis Statements or assumptions that researchers construct for the purpose of testing relationships. More specific than theories. Dependent Variable – the phenomenon that is affected by other variables; or the effect in a cause and effect relationship. Independent Variable – the phenomenon that may have some effect on the DV; or the cause in a cause and effect relationship.

5. Various Review Items An internet poll is unlikely to provide an accurate measure of public opinion – why? –Self selection, man on the street poll. Public opinion – the distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues. Political protest is an effective form of political participation when?

6. Various Review Items The Constitution gives the central economic policymaking role to: Congress, Presidency, Federal Reserve Chair To become a member of a political party, one needs to do what?

7. Various Review Items Well informed people pay more attention to what media source? Internet, newspaper, blogs, network news? Civil Liberties are the individual legal and constitutional protections against government action.