Question 1

Which of the following is true of the work of most comparativists?

Accepted Answer

A)  When they expand study outside of a single country, they still tend to limit their scope to a single geographic region. 
B)  They seek to study countries for which the least amount of established research has been accomplished. 
C)  They try to choose countries with radically different political systems in order to maximize variability in cases. 
D)  They tend to limit their focus to a single level of economic development. 
A)  When they expand study outside of a single country, they still tend to limit their scope to a single geographic region. 
B)  They seek to study countries for which the least amount of established research has been accomplished. 
C)  They try to choose countries with radically different political systems in order to maximize variability in cases. 
D)  They tend to limit their focus to a single level of economic development. A

Question 2

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. B

Question 3

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 B

Question 4

What is inductive 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 5

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Why are both forms of reasoning important in determining correlations and/or causal relationships in comparative politics?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will define inductive as s

Question 6

A major criticism of comparative politics at the turn of the twentieth century was that it

Accepted Answer

A)  relied too heavily on predictive models. 
B)  was too focused on postrevolutionary states. 
C)  employed too many quantitative methods. 
D)  tended to be descriptive, atheoretical, and Eurocentric. 
A)  relied too heavily on predictive models. 
B)  was too focused on postrevolutionary states. 
C)  employed too many quantitative methods. 
D)  tended to be descriptive, atheoretical, and Eurocentric.

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

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 9

In which of the following ways does quantitative research differ from qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is more likely to have a specific geographic focus. 
B)  It is more likely to use inductive reasoning. 
C)  It favors a wider use of cases not restricted by area specialization. 
D)  Its variables tend to be less rigorously defined. 
A)  It is more likely to have a specific geographic focus. 
B)  It is more likely to use inductive reasoning. 
C)  It favors a wider use of cases not restricted by area specialization. 
D)  Its variables tend to be less rigorously defined.

Question 10

In case study research,one problem that may emerge is choosing only cases that match the expected results of the research question.This is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  choice limiting. 
B)  inference liability. 
C)  selection bias. 
D)  norm bounding. 
A)  choice limiting. 
B)  inference liability. 
C)  selection bias. 
D)  norm bounding.

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

The shift in comparative politics away from political institutions (such as legislatures and constitutions)and toward individual political behavior is known as the

Accepted Answer

A)  analytical revolt. 
B)  statistical turn. 
C)  behavioral revolution. 
D)  causal transformation. 
A)  analytical revolt. 
B)  statistical turn. 
C)  behavioral revolution. 
D)  causal transformation.

Question 13

Which of the following would be an example of selection bias?

Accepted Answer

A)  studying revolutions by looking at cases with outcomes of revolution and nonrevolution 
B)  only studying evidence consistent with your political ideology 
C)  studying the causes of democracy by looking only at cases with outcomes of democracy 
D)  studying religiosity to see if it is correlated with postcolonial regimes 
A)  studying revolutions by looking at cases with outcomes of revolution and nonrevolution 
B)  only studying evidence consistent with your political ideology 
C)  studying the causes of democracy by looking only at cases with outcomes of democracy 
D)  studying religiosity to see if it is correlated with postcolonial regimes

Question 14

One big rift within the study of comparative politics is

Accepted Answer

A)  poststructuralism versus critical realism. 
B)  epistemology versus ontology. 
C)  quantitative versus qualitative research. 
D)  structural versus agent-centered research. 
A)  poststructuralism versus critical realism. 
B)  epistemology versus ontology. 
C)  quantitative versus qualitative research. 
D)  structural versus agent-centered research.

Question 15

Critics of the behavioral revolution accused it of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was too focused on history. 
B)  It had come to emphasize methodology over knowledge. 
C)  It had not fully embraced mathematical innovations. 
D)  It was not interested in developing predictive models of politics. 
A)  It was too focused on history. 
B)  It had come to emphasize methodology over knowledge. 
C)  It had not fully embraced mathematical innovations. 
D)  It was not interested in developing predictive models of politics.

Question 16

A distinct comparative approach to politics first emerges with the work of

Accepted Answer

A)  Marx. 
B)  Hobbes. 
C)  Rousseau. 
D)  Machiavelli. 
A)  Marx. 
B)  Hobbes. 
C)  Rousseau. 
D)  Machiavelli.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of the concept of political institutions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Strong institutions generate good norms and values; weak institutions generate negative or destructive ones. 
B)  U.S. democracy is an institution in both the formal and informal sense. 
C)  Most countries lack common formal political institutions. 
D)  When taxation is "institutionalized," tax evasion often increases as a result. 
A)  Strong institutions generate good norms and values; weak institutions generate negative or destructive ones. 
B)  U.S. democracy is an institution in both the formal and informal sense. 
C)  Most countries lack common formal political institutions. 
D)  When taxation is "institutionalized," tax evasion often increases as a result.

Question 18

How strongly is democracy institutionalized in your country? Has its level of institutionalization changed over time,and how difficult would it be to deinstitutionalize democracy? What formal structures support its institutionalization?

Accepted Answer

Answers may vary by country but should i

Question 19

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 20

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

Which of the following is true of the work of most comparativists?

Politics is defined as the

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

What is inductive reasoning?

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Why are both forms of reasoning important in determining correlations and/or causal relationships in comparative politics?

A major criticism of comparative politics at the turn of the twentieth century was that it

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?

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

In which of the following ways does quantitative research differ from qualitative research?

In case study research,one problem that may emerge is choosing only cases that match the expected results of the research question.This is known as

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?

The shift in comparative politics away from political institutions (such as legislatures and constitutions)and toward individual political behavior is known as the

Which of the following would be an example of selection bias?

One big rift within the study of comparative politics is

Critics of the behavioral revolution accused it of which of the following?

A distinct comparative approach to politics first emerges with the work of

Which of the following is true of the concept of political institutions?

How strongly is democracy institutionalized in your country? Has its level of institutionalization changed over time,and how difficult would it be to deinstitutionalize democracy? What formal structures support its institutionalization?

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

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?

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Democratic Regimes

Nondemocratic Regimes

Political Violence

Developed Democracies

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

Filters

Exam 1: Introduction

Which of the following is true of the work of most comparativists?

Politics is defined as the

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

What is inductive reasoning?

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Why are both forms of reasoning important in determining correlations and/or causal relationships in comparative politics?

A major criticism of comparative politics at the turn of the twentieth century was that it

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?

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

In which of the following ways does quantitative research differ from qualitative research?

In case study research,one problem that may emerge is choosing only cases that match the expected results of the research question.This is known as

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?

The shift in comparative politics away from political institutions (such as legislatures and constitutions)and toward individual political behavior is known as the

Which of the following would be an example of selection bias?

One big rift within the study of comparative politics is

Critics of the behavioral revolution accused it of which of the following?

A distinct comparative approach to politics first emerges with the work of

Which of the following is true of the concept of political institutions?

How strongly is democracy institutionalized in your country? Has its level of institutionalization changed over time,and how difficult would it be to deinstitutionalize democracy? What formal structures support its institutionalization?

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

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?

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Democratic Regimes

Nondemocratic Regimes

Political Violence

Developed Democracies

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

Filters