This document outlines the goals and content for a political science/sociology course. It discusses key concepts in both fields like nations, governments, and class. It explains what concepts are, their purposes, and how they can be operationalized as different variable types. The document provides examples of conceptualizing political ideology and religiosity as variables. It discusses formulating hypotheses by clarifying relationships between phenomena using variables in theories. Students are instructed to identify concepts in their field and provide operational definitions. Examples of hypotheses involving voting behavior and candidate positioning are also presented.

1. POL / SOC 360-01
Spring 2015

4.  Goal #1: What are concepts? What is
operationalization? Why should we care?
 Goal #2: How do concepts serve as different
kinds of variables?
 Goal #3: What role do variables play in
formulating hypotheses?

7. INSTRUCTIONS
Partner with someone in your major.
What concepts make up either
the political or social world?
Be prepared to share your thoughts.

8.  Examples in Political Science
 Nations
 Governmental Systems
 Political Ideology
 Individuals
 Examples in Sociology
 Class
 Religiosity
 Health

9.  What is a concept?
 Idea or mental construct representing real world
 Why should we care about concepts?
 What purposes do they serve?

10.  Accurate, Precise, and Informative
 ProvideTools for Communication
 Develop a Perspective
 Avoid “Fallacy of Reification”
 Allow Generalization and Classification
 Components ofTheories
 NeitherTrue or False

16.  Single Dimension Concepts
 Socioeconomic Status (SES)
 Cultural Fragmentation
 Multi-Dimensional Concepts
 Liberalism
 Democracy

18. INSTRUCTIONS
In small groups, think of two concepts
(one in political science and one in sociology)
and provide operational definitions for each.

20.  Clarify relationships
between phenomena
 R = PB – C +D
 R = Reward gained from
voting in election; proxy
for turnout
 P = Probability of vote
“mattering”
 B = Benefits ofVoting
 C = Costs ofVoting
 D = “Civic Duty”
psychological benefits)

21. (1)
Clinton
(2) (3) (4)
Bush
(5) (6)
VARIABLES Foreign Economic Domestic Foreign Economic Domestic
Tenure in Office (12.82) 11.46) (4.94) (18.44) * (6.55) (11.92) *
(1.23) (1.32) (0.36) (2.49) (1.82) (2.11)
Second Term (-65.88) (-92.87) (-199.73) (-345.08) * -352.07) ** (-447.04) **
(-0.75) (-1.27) (-1.71) (-1.98) (-4.16) (-3.37)
Presidential Approval (-2.21) (-6.00) (-2.06) (11.94) * (2.89) 2.41)
(-0.47) (-1.51) (-0.33) (2.40) (1.19) (0.64)
Divided Government (-45.74) (-149.01) ** (-156.05) (-147.36) * (-109.60) ** -103.90)
(-0.67) (-2.60) (-1.71) (-2.11) (-3.23) (-1.95)
Unemployment Rate (-303.13) (863.56) (854.89) (-524.54) (-679.34) ** -629.65) *
(-0.49) (1.66) (1.03) (-1.48) (-3.95) (-2.33)
Inflation Rate (-39.63) (-8.57) (12.44) (-9.71) (0.64) -10.08)
(-1.54) (-0.40) (0.36) (-0.61) (0.08) (-0.83)
Presidential Election (51.19) (-111.89) (-113.16) (-97.16) (-39.64) 14.73)
(0.67) (-1.75) (-1.11) (-0.72) (-0.60) (0.14)
Midterm Election (82.39) (-97.12) * (2.67) (118.14) (5.15) 91.11)
(1.82) (-2.57) (0.04) (1.59) (0.14) (1.61)
Election Season (-85.19) (254.59) ** (399.31) ** (435.80) * 272.93) ** 638.33) **
(-0.75) (2.69) (2.64) (2.28) (2.94) (4.38)
Constant (6,816.18) (131.35) (-2,721.79) (2,273.87) 968.11) 2,933.50)
(1.95) (0.04) (-0.58) (0.78) (0.68) (1.32)
Observations 95 95 95 95 95 95
R-squared 0.12 0.30 0.21 0.26 0.40 0.46
Note: z-statistics in parentheses. ** p<0.01, * p<0.05

23.  IndependentVariable
 DependentVariable
 AntecedentVariable
 InterveningVariable

25. INSTRUCTIONS
Think about the topic for your survey research project.
Sketch out a simple arrow diagram that includes
an independent variable and a dependent variable.
Bonus points if your diagram includes an
antecedent variable or intervening variable.

26. Arrow diagrams can get
quite complex, as shown
by these examples of
determining vote choice.

28.  An educated guess representing the
proposed explanation for some
phenomenon
 Indicates relationship between independent
variable and dependent variable
 Emphasis on proposed explanations

29.  Empirical Statement
 Generalizability
 Plausibility
 Specificity
 Corresponds toTest
 Testability
 Linkage Makes Sense

30.  Directional Hypothesis
 Positive or Direct Relationship
 Negative or Inverse Relationship
 Non-Directional Hypothesis
 Comparison among categories
 Null Hypothesis
 No relationship between IV and DV

31. INSTRUCTIONS
Choose a subject in political science or sociology .
Write the following:
Directional Hypothesis (Positive or Negative)
Non-Directional Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis

33. CALCULUS OFVOTING
 RQ: Why do people
participate in elections?
 Theory: R= pB-C + D
(Downs 1957, Riker and
Ordeshook 1968)
 Hypothesis: Turnout
increases with easier
registration requirements
MEDIANVOTERTHEORY
 RQ: What explains variation
in positions taken by political
candidates?
 Theory:Voters choose party
(and candidate) closely
reflecting preferences
 Hypothesis: Party appeals to
“median voter” has higher
likelihood of winning election