Approaches and Methods of Political Science

                                          Approaches and Methods of Political Science

Clarification on Methods and Approaches

Methods

Ø    Way-out of study or investigation.

Ø    How to study? How to collect information? Which tools to be used?

Ø  It can be divided into two parts: doctrinal and non-doctrinal or Philosophical and empirical or traditional and modern or scientific.

Ø   Both inductive and deductive

Approaches

Ø   An approach provides a framework for explanation and prediction/calculation

Ø   How to analyze? It prefers certain attitude to analyze PS.

Ø   It gives us an idea of analysis of political science

Ø   It can be classified into three parts: traditional – Modern/scientific - Marxist

Ø    Both inductive and deductive

Collecting and analyzing data in Political Science

Logical Conclusion

(1)Induction:

•        Specific to general

•        Discovers new laws/system

•        Conclusion is hypothesis

•        Example: I drink wine - you drink wine. Conclusion is that all Nepalese drink wine.

(2) Deduction:

•        General to specific

•        Applies known laws/system

•        Conclusion is final

•        Example: All mothers are female. Bandana is a mother. Conclusion is that Bandana is a female.

Methods of study of Political Science

o  The observational method

o  The experimental method

o  The Historical method

o  The philosophical method

o  The comparative method

o  The method of parallel functions or analogy

o  The qualitative and quantitative method

Approaches

o  Traditional Approaches

n  Philosophical approach:

n  Historical-Evolutionary approach

n  Institutional approach

n  Legal approach

o  Modern/Scientific Approaches

n  Behaviouralism:

n  System approach:

n  Structural – Functionalism approach:

n  Communication theory approach:

n  Group approach:

n  Decision-Making approach:

n  Conflict approach:

n  Game theory approach:

n  Inter-disciplinary approach:

o  Marxist (This is also accepted as a Scientific approach)

Scientific Approach

o  Scientific approach is that where logic plays vital role to make accurate conclusion.

o  The three fundamental components of scientific approach are experimentation, observation and logical arguments from accepted postulates.

o  The scientific approach is based on following basic postulates:

n  It relies on empirical evidence and utilize relevant concept.

n  It is committed to objective consideration.

n  It presupposes neutrality: adequate & correct statement.

n  Its methodology accepts critical scrutiny and conclusion can be tested.

Relation of political science with other social science subject/Law

o  Political Science and History

o  Political Science and Sociology/Anthropology

o  Political Science and Jurisprudence/Legal Theory

o  Political Science and Economics

o  Political Science and Ethics

o  Political science and public administration

o  Political Science and Psychology

o  Political Science and Statistics

o  Political science and geography