BPSC-133 Comparative government and politics, Unit-2 Methods of comparative political analysis, Free notes are available IGNOU.

BPSC-133 UNIT-2 OVERVIEW

IMPORTANT TOPICS ARE THERE :-

1. The comparative method : why compare
2. Methods of comparison

These two topics are most important from the exam point of view. So, you all should read it carefully. Below we have explained the full chapter very easy way, you will understand it very quickly.

BPSC-133 UNIT-2 METHODS OF COMPARATIVE POLITICAL ANALYSIS (NOTES)

TOPICS :-

1. Introduction
2. Some thoughts on method
3. The comparative method :why compare
4. Methods of Comparison

1.2 SOME THOUGHTS ON METHOD :-

Method is a useful, helpful and instructive way of accomplishing something with relative ease. It is the means of doing things eg, a manual of machine. Thus, the organisation of ways of application of specific concepts to data is method. Several methods such as comparative, historical,experimental statistical, etc. are used by scholars for their studies.

1.3 THE COMPARATIVE METHODS : WHY COMPARE ? :-

1. SOCIAL- SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH :- The social scientists beleive that comparative method offers the best means to conduct ‘scientific’ research i.e, research characterised by precision, validity, reliablility and verifiability and some amount of predictiability. It offer the best opportunity to seek explanations of societal phenomena and offer theoretical propositions and generalisations.
2. INTEGRATIVE THINKING :- For some scholars, ‘thinking with comparisons’ is an intrgred part of analysing specific social and political phenomenon. Comparisons either implicit or explicit, pervode the work of social scientists and is done from the very beginning, comparisons among , organizations, communities, institutions, societies and cultures. Often, in a system of unequal relationships the attribution of differences and their reasons, result in the justification of the disempowerment of groups seen as different. This means looking for relationship should include its interconnections.

1.4 :- METHODS OF COMPARISON :-

1. Experimental methods :- It has a limited application in social sciences. It aims to establish a casual relationship between two conditions. So, it objective is to establish that one conditions leads to other.
2. Case study :- It focus on the depth study of single case. It provides of data which become the basis of general observations and then these are used to make comparisons with other cases. It may be in a disproportionate manner that emphasise distinctiveness.
3. Statistical Method :- This method uses categories and variables which are quantifiable or can be represented by numbers, eg. voting patterns, population growth, etc. It has the advantage of presenting precise data in a compact and visually effective manner, So that similarity and dissimilarities are visible through numerical representation. It also gives unique opportunity to look for complex explanations in terms of relationship. It helps to explain in terms of relationship. It help to explain and compare long term trends and offer prediction on future trends.
4. Focused comparisons :- These studies take up a small number of countries often two, and concentrate frequently on particular aspects of countries political rather than on all aspects. A comparative study of policies in different countries has successfully been undertaken by this method.
5. Historical methods :- This is different as it looks for casual explanations which are historically sensitive. It aims to develop, test, refine causal explanatory hypothesis about events and structures. The important demand was to understand societies and causes of human action and its impact of the present in the past. So, it focus on the study of contacts, interactions and interconnections among human populations and cultures.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OF THIS UNIT-2

1. Write a short note of Historical Methods.