Why are clear definitions of concepts important in developing specific hypotheses?
What will be an ideal response?
Clear definitions are first and foremost important so that the knowledge we acquire from testing our hypotheses is transmissible and empirical. Because a particular discipline has some minimal level of shared consensus concerning its significant concepts, researchers can usually communicate more readily with other researchers in the same discipline than with researchers in other disciplines. Many interesting concepts that political scientists deal with are abstract and lack a completely precise, shared meaning. This hinders communication concerning research and creates uncertainty regarding the measurement of a phenomenon. Consequently, a researcher must explain what is meant by the concept so that a measurement strategy may be developed and so that those reading and evaluating the research can decide if the meaning accords with their own understanding of the term.
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Democracy in the United States is distinguished from many European democracies by the fact that in the United States,
A. many more offices are elective. B. more campaign money comes from public sources. C. more people participate in the electoral process. D. the government plays a more active role in elections. E. the government frequently changes hands.
One issue advocacy "weapon" that interest groups can use to bypass an unresponsive legislature is a(n)
a. legislative veto. b. contract lobbyist. c. filibuster. d. initiated ballot measure.
So--?called "customary international law" was the result of pressures from observing the principle of consistency and reciprocity in international law
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to
A. win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections. B. advertise on television. C. share in patronage appointments, which serve as an incentive to lure campaign workers. D. receive campaign funds from government in proportion to their support in opinion polls. E. win legislative seats by lottery for parties that have no chance of winning majority support.