Question 1

To a comparativist, which would be of more value: discovery of a correlation or discovery of a causal relationship? Why?

Accepted Answer

A) correlation, because it demonstrates empirically that two variables are related 
B) causal relationship, because it describes a more concrete, specific relationship between two variables 
C) correlation, because it is more valuable for quantitative research findings 
D) neither, as both terms describe essentially the same relationship between two variables 
A) correlation, because it demonstrates empirically that two variables are related 
B) causal relationship, because it describes a more concrete, specific relationship between two variables 
C) correlation, because it is more valuable for quantitative research findings 
D) neither, as both terms describe essentially the same relationship between two variables

Question 2

Which of the following forms of research or data would more likely be used by a quantitative research study than by a qualitative research study?

Accepted Answer

A) economic data 
B) interview data 
C) observational research 
D) archival data 
A) economic data 
B) interview data 
C) observational research 
D) archival data

Question 3

Politics is defined as the

Accepted Answer

A) battle over economic resources and their use. 
B) struggle in any group for the power to make decisions for the larger group. 
C) ability to impose your values on others. 
D) relationship between international actors. 
A) battle over economic resources and their use. 
B) struggle in any group for the power to make decisions for the larger group. 
C) ability to impose your values on others. 
D) relationship between international actors.

Question 4

Modernization theory can be defined as the view that

Accepted Answer

A) as societies develop, they will become capitalist democracies, converging around shared values. 
B) each country and region will likely take a different route to modernization. 
C) significant social and economic change is possible only through revolution. 
D) the only way to modernize is to apply scientific methods to social and economic problems. 
A) as societies develop, they will become capitalist democracies, converging around shared values. 
B) each country and region will likely take a different route to modernization. 
C) significant social and economic change is possible only through revolution. 
D) the only way to modernize is to apply scientific methods to social and economic problems.

Question 5

In which of the following ways can multicausality affect comparative politics research?

Accepted Answer

A) It reduces limits to information and information-gathering procedures. 
B) It allows comparative politics researchers to make more accurate predictions about real-world phenomena. 
C) It complicates the comparative method and makes it more difficult to develop concrete explanations about real-world phenomena. 
D) It helps provide a wider number of cases for researchers to study. 
A) It reduces limits to information and information-gathering procedures. 
B) It allows comparative politics researchers to make more accurate predictions about real-world phenomena. 
C) It complicates the comparative method and makes it more difficult to develop concrete explanations about real-world phenomena. 
D) It helps provide a wider number of cases for researchers to study.

Question 6

The substance of politics is inevitably bound up in the struggle between

Accepted Answer

A) individual rights and collective responsibilities. 
B) equality of opportunities and equality of outcomes. 
C) liberty versus security. 
D) individual freedom and collective equality. 
A) individual rights and collective responsibilities. 
B) equality of opportunities and equality of outcomes. 
C) liberty versus security. 
D) individual freedom and collective equality.

Question 7

Describe the difference between qualitative and quantitative methodology in comparative politics.How has this difference evolved over time? How does a mixed-methods approach fit into this debate?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will describe the distinct

Question 8

In which of the following ways did behavioralism differ from modernization theory?

Accepted Answer

A) It was more of a methodology than a set of hypotheses. 
B) It put less emphasis on empirical, data-driven research. 
C) It demonstrated a narrower geographic range of interest. 
D) It put greater emphasis on the historical evolution of political institutions. 
A) It was more of a methodology than a set of hypotheses. 
B) It put less emphasis on empirical, data-driven research. 
C) It demonstrated a narrower geographic range of interest. 
D) It put greater emphasis on the historical evolution of political institutions.

Question 9

Discuss the emergence of and basic characteristics of modernization theory and behavioralism.How do the two approaches in comparative politics differ from each other, and how are they similar?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will briefly summarize the

Question 10

Which of the following statements about game theory is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) It assumes rational, predictable behavior by individuals. 
B) It considers cultural factors to be a major determinant of human political choices. 
C) Its primary political actor of focus is the institution. 
D) It is often used in qualitative research. 
A) It assumes rational, predictable behavior by individuals. 
B) It considers cultural factors to be a major determinant of human political choices. 
C) Its primary political actor of focus is the institution. 
D) It is often used in qualitative research.

Question 11

Why is it difficult to create a science of comparative politics? Is it because this area of study is relatively new, or are there fundamental obstacles that will always limit what we can know based on the comparative method?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will discuss a significant

Question 12

Which of the following events marked a major turning point in the field of comparative politics?

Accepted Answer

A) World War I, World War II, and the Cold War 
B) the Great Depression 
C) the American Civil War and Reconstruction 
D) the United Nations and NATO 
A) World War I, World War II, and the Cold War 
B) the Great Depression 
C) the American Civil War and Reconstruction 
D) the United Nations and NATO

Question 13

What is deductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A) starting from a hypothesis, then seeking out the evidence 
B) starting from a single case, then generating a hypothesis 
C) the process of testing evidence using extensive field research 
D) using ideological assumptions to create policy 
A) starting from a hypothesis, then seeking out the evidence 
B) starting from a single case, then generating a hypothesis 
C) the process of testing evidence using extensive field research 
D) using ideological assumptions to create policy

Question 14

Which of the following could be considered a major challenge faced by political scientists in their use of the comparative method?

Accepted Answer

A) tendency of researchers to focus on too broad a geographic area 
B) difficulty in choosing from among a large number of comparable cases 
C) general reluctance to look at historical factors 
D) difficulty in controlling variables 
A) tendency of researchers to focus on too broad a geographic area 
B) difficulty in choosing from among a large number of comparable cases 
C) general reluctance to look at historical factors 
D) difficulty in controlling variables

Question 15

A greater focus on individual freedom is most likely to require

Accepted Answer

A) a smaller role for the state. 
B) a larger role for the state. 
C) greater civic responsibility. 
D) more political parties. 
A) a smaller role for the state. 
B) a larger role for the state. 
C) greater civic responsibility. 
D) more political parties.

To a comparativist, which would be of more value: discovery of a correlation or discovery of a causal relationship? Why?

Which of the following forms of research or data would more likely be used by a quantitative research study than by a qualitative research study?

Politics is defined as the

Modernization theory can be defined as the view that

In which of the following ways can multicausality affect comparative politics research?

The substance of politics is inevitably bound up in the struggle between

Describe the difference between qualitative and quantitative methodology in comparative politics.How has this difference evolved over time? How does a mixed-methods approach fit into this debate?

In which of the following ways did behavioralism differ from modernization theory?

Discuss the emergence of and basic characteristics of modernization theory and behavioralism.How do the two approaches in comparative politics differ from each other, and how are they similar?

Which of the following statements about game theory is accurate?

Why is it difficult to create a science of comparative politics? Is it because this area of study is relatively new, or are there fundamental obstacles that will always limit what we can know based on the comparative method?

Which of the following events marked a major turning point in the field of comparative politics?

What is deductive reasoning?

Which of the following could be considered a major challenge faced by political scientists in their use of the comparative method?

A greater focus on individual freedom is most likely to require

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Political Violence

Democratic Regimes

Developed Democracies

Nondemocratic Regimes

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

United Kingdom

Russia

China

Iran

Mexico

Nigeria

Filters

Exam 1: Introduction

To a comparativist, which would be of more value: discovery of a correlation or discovery of a causal relationship? Why?

Which of the following forms of research or data would more likely be used by a quantitative research study than by a qualitative research study?

Politics is defined as the

Modernization theory can be defined as the view that

In which of the following ways can multicausality affect comparative politics research?

The substance of politics is inevitably bound up in the struggle between

Describe the difference between qualitative and quantitative methodology in comparative politics.How has this difference evolved over time? How does a mixed-methods approach fit into this debate?

In which of the following ways did behavioralism differ from modernization theory?

Discuss the emergence of and basic characteristics of modernization theory and behavioralism.How do the two approaches in comparative politics differ from each other, and how are they similar?

Which of the following statements about game theory is accurate?

Why is it difficult to create a science of comparative politics? Is it because this area of study is relatively new, or are there fundamental obstacles that will always limit what we can know based on the comparative method?

Which of the following events marked a major turning point in the field of comparative politics?

What is deductive reasoning?

Which of the following could be considered a major challenge faced by political scientists in their use of the comparative method?

A greater focus on individual freedom is most likely to require

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Political Violence

Democratic Regimes

Developed Democracies

Nondemocratic Regimes

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

United Kingdom

Russia

China

Iran

Mexico

Nigeria

Filters