Q.1 Which of the following is a primary method used in comparative politics?
Laboratory experiments
Case studies
Clinical trials
Chemical analysis
Explanation - Case studies are widely used in comparative politics to examine particular countries, events, or institutions in depth.
Correct answer is: Case studies
Q.2 The 'most similar systems design' in comparative politics focuses on:
Comparing very different countries with similar outcomes
Comparing similar countries with different outcomes
Analyzing only historical events
Studying individual behavior exclusively
Explanation - The most similar systems design compares countries with similar characteristics to understand why their outcomes differ.
Correct answer is: Comparing similar countries with different outcomes
Q.3 Which method relies on quantitative data to identify patterns and correlations?
Qualitative research
Comparative method
Statistical analysis
Historical analysis
Explanation - Statistical analysis uses numerical data to identify patterns, relationships, and correlations across cases in comparative politics.
Correct answer is: Statistical analysis
Q.4 Who is considered a pioneer in the behavioral approach to political science?
Max Weber
David Easton
Aristotle
Niccolò Machiavelli
Explanation - David Easton contributed significantly to the behavioral approach, emphasizing empirical and scientific methods in studying political behavior.
Correct answer is: David Easton
Q.5 The method of comparing countries to find common patterns is known as:
Experimental method
Comparative method
Longitudinal method
Descriptive method
Explanation - The comparative method systematically compares different political systems to identify patterns and causal relationships.
Correct answer is: Comparative method
Q.6 Which of the following is a limitation of the case study method?
Provides in-depth understanding
Can establish causality easily
Limited generalizability
Focuses on unique contexts
Explanation - Case studies provide deep insights into specific instances but often cannot be generalized across all political systems.
Correct answer is: Limited generalizability
Q.7 A researcher comparing the impact of presidential systems on economic growth across multiple countries is using:
Experimental research
Comparative politics
Ethnographic research
Philosophical analysis
Explanation - Comparative politics involves analyzing multiple countries to understand how political systems affect outcomes like economic growth.
Correct answer is: Comparative politics
Q.8 Which approach emphasizes the role of institutions, rules, and formal structures?
Behavioralism
Institutionalism
Postmodernism
Constructivism
Explanation - Institutionalism focuses on formal rules, structures, and organizations as key factors shaping political outcomes.
Correct answer is: Institutionalism
Q.9 The 'most different systems design' compares countries that:
Are very similar but produce different outcomes
Are very different but produce similar outcomes
Have the same government type
Share the same culture
Explanation - This method examines different countries to see which factors lead to similar political results, isolating potential causal variables.
Correct answer is: Are very different but produce similar outcomes
Q.10 Which method involves long-term historical analysis to explain political development?
Historical-comparative method
Experimental method
Survey research
Behavioralism
Explanation - The historical-comparative method examines historical trajectories of countries to understand political development and institutional change.
Correct answer is: Historical-comparative method
Q.11 Which type of research focuses on the behavior, attitudes, and opinions of political actors?
Institutional analysis
Behavioral research
Ethnography
Policy analysis
Explanation - Behavioral research studies individual and group political behavior, including voting patterns, public opinion, and political participation.
Correct answer is: Behavioral research
Q.12 Quantitative methods in comparative politics are mainly used for:
Describing individual cases only
Testing hypotheses and identifying correlations
Philosophical debates
Documenting narratives
Explanation - Quantitative methods allow researchers to test hypotheses, analyze large datasets, and identify correlations between political variables.
Correct answer is: Testing hypotheses and identifying correlations
Q.13 Which of the following is a challenge of comparative politics research?
Limited availability of data
Over-reliance on statistical software
Excessive focus on laboratory experiments
Ignoring all historical context
Explanation - Comparative politics often faces data limitations, especially in developing countries or for historical periods.
Correct answer is: Limited availability of data
Q.14 The scientific study of politics using systematic observation and hypothesis testing is called:
Normative political theory
Political philosophy
Empirical political science
Political ethics
Explanation - Empirical political science relies on observation, evidence, and hypothesis testing to understand political phenomena.
Correct answer is: Empirical political science
Q.15 Ethnography in political science primarily focuses on:
Statistical modeling
Experiments
In-depth study of political cultures and communities
Historical treaties
Explanation - Ethnography studies political life from the perspective of participants, focusing on culture, practices, and local experiences.
Correct answer is: In-depth study of political cultures and communities
Q.16 Which approach emphasizes ideas, beliefs, and social constructs as central to political analysis?
Institutionalism
Behavioralism
Constructivism
Rational choice theory
Explanation - Constructivism focuses on how political reality is shaped by ideas, norms, and shared beliefs rather than just material factors.
Correct answer is: Constructivism
Q.17 Rational choice theory in comparative politics assumes that:
Political actors behave randomly
Actors make decisions based on cost-benefit calculations
Institutions are irrelevant
Culture determines all outcomes
Explanation - Rational choice theory models political actors as rational individuals who aim to maximize their preferences.
Correct answer is: Actors make decisions based on cost-benefit calculations
Q.18 Which method uses surveys, polls, and questionnaires to gather data on political behavior?
Experimental research
Survey research
Ethnography
Historical analysis
Explanation - Survey research collects systematic data from individuals to analyze attitudes, opinions, and behaviors.
Correct answer is: Survey research
Q.19 Which approach argues that political outcomes are determined by underlying structures and class relations?
Marxist approach
Behavioral approach
Institutional approach
Constructivist approach
Explanation - The Marxist approach emphasizes economic structures, class conflict, and material conditions as key drivers of political outcomes.
Correct answer is: Marxist approach
Q.20 Comparative politics is primarily concerned with:
Studying one country exclusively
Understanding patterns and variations across political systems
Analyzing only ancient political systems
Writing political philosophy
Explanation - Comparative politics systematically studies multiple political systems to identify similarities, differences, and causal mechanisms.
Correct answer is: Understanding patterns and variations across political systems
Q.21 Which method involves manipulating variables to observe their effects in controlled settings?
Experimental method
Comparative method
Historical-comparative method
Ethnographic method
Explanation - The experimental method involves controlled manipulation of variables to establish cause-effect relationships, though it is less common in comparative politics.
Correct answer is: Experimental method
Q.22 The term 'operationalization' in political research refers to:
Defining how a concept will be measured
Writing political philosophy
Analyzing historical documents
Constructing government institutions
Explanation - Operationalization is the process of specifying the measurement procedures for abstract concepts to make them empirically testable.
Correct answer is: Defining how a concept will be measured
Q.23 Which approach critiques traditional methods for focusing too much on institutions and not enough on behavior?
Behavioral approach
Institutional approach
Rational choice approach
Historical approach
Explanation - The behavioral approach emphasizes studying actual political behavior rather than only formal structures and institutions.
Correct answer is: Behavioral approach
Q.24 Which method often uses small-N or single-country comparisons to generate insights?
Case study method
Large-scale surveys
Experimental research
Quantitative modeling
Explanation - The case study method focuses on a limited number of cases to produce in-depth understanding, often using qualitative data.
Correct answer is: Case study method