Political science is a social science that uses the scientific method to develop and test theories about political phenomena and systems. It aims to explain political issues and has eight major subfields. Political scientists communicate through journals like Political Science Quarterly and Perspectives on Political Science, as well as forums and newsletters specific to each subfield. They seek to operationalize abstract concepts like freedom by defining measurable components. Researchers employ genres like case studies, comparative analysis, statistics, archival data, interviews and field research. Membership in major organizations like the American Political Science Association is important for participation in the field.

1. Discourse Communities
in
Political Science
-key features and functions-
Emily Shafer Northrup Dr. Garza

2. Political Science as a Discipline
“Politics is who get what, when and how”
-Harlod Laswell
• Social Science
• Uses the Scientific Method of Inquiry
• Concerned with general theories and principles
• Attempts to use empirical evidence
to explain political phenomena
• 8 major sub fields
( Political Philosophy or Public Administration)
Harold D. Laswell

3. Intercommunication
• Political Science Quarterly
• Published by the Academy of Political Scientists
• Perspectives on Political Science
• Published by the American Political Science Association
• Journals, forums, and newsletters specific to each sub discipline

4. “Operationalize”
sets a metric to allow for the measurement of
intangible, otherwise difficult to quantify
FREEDOM
• Freedom to form and join organizations
• Freedom of expression
• Right to vote
• Eligibility for public office
• Right of political leaders to compete for
support
• Right of political leaders to compete for votes
• Alternative sources of information
• Free and Fair Elections
• Government has to rely on voting or other
forms of popular expression to make laws

5. Genres in Political Research
• Case Studies
• Comparative
• Inductive, used to make generalizations
• Statistical Analysis
• Archival Data (county voting records, census)
• Interviews
• Field Research
• Open-ended/ non-structured

6. Membership Thresholds
• Two mainstream professional
organizations
• Civil Society is a goal common to
the discipline