Political Science Research Methods
Mock Exam
Course Introduction
Political Science Research Methods introduces students to the foundational techniques and principles used to systematically study political phenomena. The course covers both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including research design, data collection, hypothesis formulation, statistical analysis, and interpretation of findings. Students develop critical skills to evaluate existing political science research and conduct independent studies, learning to apply ethical standards and methodological rigor to analyze political behavior, institutions, and policies. Emphasis is placed on constructing viable research questions, selecting appropriate methods, and effectively communicating research outcomes within the discipline.
Recommended Textbook
Introducing Comparative Politics Concepts and Cases in Context 3rd Edition by Stephen Orvis
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12 Chapters
883 Verified Questions
883 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Introduction
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71 Verified Questions
71 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The concept of patriarchy is considered a pluralist theory.
A)True
B)False Answer: False
Q2) According to elite theory, power is concentrated in the hands of a political elite. A)True
B)False Answer: True
Q3) Which of the following observations regarding the financial crisis that began in 2008 is true?
A)It began in Europe, but ultimately hit the United States at least as hard.
B)It has demonstrated that there is no relationship among countries and people's well-being across the globe.
C)It has demonstrated the interrelationships among countries and people's well-being across the globe.
D)It began in China and India, but ultimately hit the United States and Europe. Answer: C
Q4) A political actor is best defined as ______
Answer: any person or group engaged in political behavior
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Chapter 2: The Modern State
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75 Verified Questions
75 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The exchange of resources for political support is called ______.
Answer: clientelism
Q2) One of the major factors contributing to the Iranian Revolution in 1979 was
A)popular dissatisfaction with the extent of foreign influence over the Iranian government
B)lack of economic reform
C)a political system that granted citizens extreme freedom
D)the lack of effort to improve infrastructure
Answer: A
Q3) A nation can best be described as "an ongoing administrative apparatus that develops and administers laws and generates and implements public policies in a specific territory."
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q4) The collapse of the Soviet Union came about in part due to Reagan's asking Gorbachev to kindly tear down the Berlin Wall.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Page 4
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Chapter 3: States, Citizens, and Regimes
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79 Verified Questions
79 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following regimes allow some freedoms of expression and association but limit them.
A)liberal democracy
B)fascism
C)electoral authoritarianism
D)modernizing authoritarianism
Answer: C
Q2) The very nature of an absolutist state means that many mechanisms exist to protect citizens and enable them to claim their "rights" against political leaders.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Social citizenship refers to having
A)civil rights but not political rights
B)equality of outcomes
C)a living standard that allows full participation in political life
D)acceptance in a political community
Answer: C
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Chapter 4: States and Identity
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75 Verified Questions
75 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Nationalist leaders tend to believe in
A)primordialism
B)constructivism
C)instrumentalism
D)ethnic
Q2) Identify the argument that reflects the view of the classic liberal position in the group vs.individual rights debate.
A)Nationalism is important to the development of modern states.
B)Only individuals can have rights.
C)Groups should not have special rights because they can pursue goals contrary to the state.
D)Discussion should not be about particular interests, but about the collective good.
Q3) Citizenship based on birth within a national territory is called
A)jus sanguinis
B)birth right
C)universal
D)jus soli
Q4) Why might a relatively wealthy identity group come into conflict with the central government?
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Chapter 5: Governing Institutions in Democracies
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78 Verified Questions
78 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The ability of state institutions to hold each other accountable is called
A)horizontal accountability
B)vertical accountability
C)principal-agent accountability
D)bureaucratic accountability
Q2) Collective responsibility in the British parliamentary system means that
A)the legislature and executive share responsibility for all decisions
B)all cabinet members must publicly support all government decisions
C)the citizenry shares responsibility for government decisions
D)cabinet members have little influence on government policy
Q3) The executive and legislative branches in a presidential system are both legitimized by
A)their separation
B)the judicial branch
C)their popularity
D)the electoral process
Q4) What is the difference between "common law" and "code law?" Where did they originate? What role does stare decisis play in each of these two legal systems?
Q5) Summarize the functions of a head of state.
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Chapter 6: Institutions of Participation and Representation in Democracies
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72 Verified Questions
72 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is an SMD system?
A)closed-list PR
B)SNTV
C)open-list PR
D)FPTP
Q2) In what kind of system must the winner gain an absolute majority of the votes (50% plus one) rather than just a plurality?
A)minority system
B)majoritarian system
C)proportional system
D)single-party system
Q3) List and compare at least two of von Beyme's categories of political parties.
Q4) A system in which each geographical district elects a single representative to a legislature is called proportional representation.
A)True
B)False
Q5) State corporatism is typical of fascist regimes.
A)True
B)False
Page 8
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Chapter 7: Contentious Politics: Social Movements, Political
Violence, and Revolution
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65 Verified Questions
65 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Consensual democracies with multiple-party systems are more likely to produce major candidates or parties that champion a social movement's demands.
A)True
B)False
Q2) How is a social movement different from an interest group? From a political party?
Q3) Social movements and organizations cannot evolve into political parties.
A)True
B)False
Q4) A social revolution is the transformation of an existing regime, instigated and primarily carried out by a social movement or armed group.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Explain how the Occupy movement and Tea Party movement in the United States shaped political discourse and public opinion. Be sure to note the mechanisms behind the movements (i.e., social media, organization, etc.)
Q6) Discuss two factors that led to the rise of social movements in the 1950s and 1960s in much of the Western world.
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Chapter 8: Authoritarian Institutions
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68 Verified Questions
68 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is a characteristic of a one-party authoritarian system?
A)weakening of the ruling party as an institution over time
B)decreasing clientelism
C)allowing a strong opposition party
D)the ruling party performs mobilization functions similar to parties in a democracy
Q2) Which type of authoritarian regime is more likely to be drawn to elections?
A)personalist
B)military
C)theocratic
D)one party
Q3) What is the "problem of succession?" Explain how it affects personalist, military, one-party, and theocratic regimes.
Q4) The degree to which government processes and procedures are established, routine, and predictable is referred to as:
A)rationality
B)efficiency
C)accountability
D)institutionalization
Q5) Name a branch of government that always exists in authoritarian regimes.
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Chapter 9: Regime Change
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75 Verified Questions
75 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which country leads the world in coup attempts?
A)Iraq
B)Sudan
C)Algerian
D)Ghana
Q2) Transition theorists look for evidence of democratic consolidation because they fear
A)corruption
B)failure
C)democratic breakdown
D)democratic consolidation
Q3) Right before the coup, Brazil's military was best described as
A)very institutionalized
B)not very institutionalized
C)quite disorganized
D)under the control of individuals with neopatrimonial interests
Q4) Describe one case of democratization.Remember to describe in detail the transition, consolidation, quality of the new regime, and freedom status of the country.
Q5) List at least two facts about revolutions.
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Chapter 10: Political Economy of Wealth
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) During its 1970s-economic crisis, Britain tried a corporatist wage bargaining approach, the result of which was that
A)Britain's labor unions became very similar to Germany's
B)local unions ignored what peak associations negotiated
C)the number of strikes was reduced
D)British industry's influence was damaged
Q2) The social market economy in Germany
A)has long been a bone of contention internationally
B)was put in place in the 1980s
C)gives an important role to unions and religious organizations
D)is based on state ownership of business
Q3) Which of the following countries have an economic model very close to the traditional concept of laissez faire?
A)the United States
B)Germany
C)Mexico
D)Japan
Q4) The United Kingdom leaving the euro zone is known in common terms as "Brexit."
A)True
B)False
Page 12
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Chapter 11: Political Economy of Development
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70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The most unequal region in the world is
A)sub-Saharan Africa
B)the Middle East
C)Latin America
D)Central Asia
Q2) Foreign Direct Investments are
A)investment from abroad in productive activity in another country
B)investment in productive activity within the country
C)investment from abroad directly spent by economic actors in a country
D)direct investments in real estate property of foreign countries
Q3) In countries with weak democracies and weak political parties, demands are based on patronage, which is likely to harm the business climate and discourages investment.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The relationship between democracy and development has been long established; the direct effect of the level of democracy on growth is slightly negative.
A)True
B)False
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Page 13
Chapter 12: Public Policies When Markets Fail: Welfare, Health, and the Environment
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Sample Questions
Q1) Explain how mitigation and adaptation relate to policy responses to climate change.
Q2) Which of the following are among the main goals of the Christian democratic welfare state?
A)social equality
B)income stabilization
C)individual autonomy
D)all of these
Q3) Which of the following is a characteristic of a Christian democratic welfare state?
A)It preserves citizen autonomy through market participation.
B)Benefits are tied to contributions to social insurance programs.
C)Social security programs supplement universal entitlement programs.
D)Only means-tested programs are instituted.
Q4) Germany's social insurance program is administered by
A)the legislative branch
B)private corporations
C)nongovernmental organizations
D)the German bureaucracy
Q5) Discuss at least two problems accompanying most healthcare systems.
Page 14
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