Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: Concept 1 is related to Concept 2
Hypothesis: Variable 1 (IV) is related to Variable 2 (DV)
Operational Definition:
IV: Definition of Cause
DV: Definition of Effect
Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: Inequality and Democracy
Hypothesis: Inequality (IV) adversely effects Democracy (DV).
Operational Definitions:
IV: (Inequality): Income Levels
DV: (Democracy): Voting
IV: (Inequality): Political Contributions
DV: (Democracy): Representation
IV: (Inequality): Racial Density of City
DV: (Democracy): Rate of Government Response
Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: SSM and 2004 Election
Hypothesis: State bans on SSM (IV) aided Bush’s reelection (DV).
Operational Definitions:
IV: (SSM): States with SSM bans on the ballot
DV: (Bush Reelection): Republican Voting % by state
Selection Bias: Variation on DV
DV: (Bush Reelect): Rep. Voting % by state with Ban
DV: (Bush Reelect): Rep. Voting % by state without Ban
Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: US Culture and Foreign Policy
Hypothesis: A Culture of Unilateralism (IV) shapes US Foreign Policy (DV).
Operational Definitions:
IV: (Unilateralism): Policy/Rhetoric of White House
DV: (US Foreign Policy): Number of US Allies In Iraq
Selection Bias: Variation on DV
DV: (US Foreign Policy): Number of US Allies In Iraq
DV: (US Foreign Policy): Number of US Allies In
Afghanistan
Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: Gambling and Economic Development
Hypothesis: Legalized Gambling (IV) will increase state revenues (DV).
Operational Definitions:
IV: (Gambling): Casino and Slot Machines Licenses
DV: (State Revenue): Increase in State Taxes
Selection Bias: Variation on DV
DV: (State Revenue): Increase in State Taxes in States with Gambling
DV: (State Revenue): Increase in State Taxes in States without Gambling
Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: Women and Politics
Hypothesis: Gender (IV) had a defining effect on Nancy Pelosi’s election
as Speaker of the House of Representatives. (DV).
Operational Definitions:
IV: (Gender): Gender of Candidate
DV: (Leadership): Likelihood Women are Elected as a
Leader.
Essay Outlines:
Introduction:
Topic: Inequality and Democracy
Question: How does Inequality affect Democracy?
Thesis: (Hypothesis): Inequality (IV) adversely effects Democracy
(DV).
Literature Review: What have other said about the topic?
Argument/Analysis: (Operational Definitions):
How do you plan to test/demonstrate your argument:
IV: (Inequality): Racial Density of City
DV: (Democracy): Rate of Government Response
Essay Outlines:
Introduction:
Topic: SSM and 2004 Election
Question: How did State bans on SSM impact the Bush’s
reelection?
Thesis: (Hypothesis): State bans on SSM (IV) aided Bush’s reelection
(DV).
Literature Review: What have other said about the topic?
Argument/Analysis: (Operational Definitions):
How do you plan to test/demonstrate your argument:
IV: (SSM): States with SSM bans on the ballot
DV: (Bush Reelect): Rep. Voting % by state with Ban
DV: (Bush Reelect): Rep. Voting % by state without Ban
Essay Outlines:
Introduction:
Topic: US Culture and Foreign Policy
Question: Is a Culture of Unilateralism shaping US Foreign Policy?
Thesis: (Hypothesis): A Culture of Unilateralism (IV) is shapes US Foreign Policy (DV).
Literature Review: What have other said about the topic?
Argument/Analysis: (Operational Definitions):
How do you plan to test/demonstrate your argument:
IV: (Unilateralism): Policy/Rhetoric of White House
DV: (US Foreign Policy): Number of US Allies In Iraq
DV: (US Foreign Policy): Number of US Allies In Afghanistan
Politics of Same Sex Marriage
Gary M. Segura
PS: Political Science and Politics April 2005; 38, 2.
Same Sex Marriage and 2004 Election
Did Kerry Lose Because of Same Sex Amendments?
Bush was reelected and 11 states passed amendments banning same sex marriage.
Analysis
Greg Lewis:
Same sex marriage may have had an influence, but it was less than most
observers claimed.
Sunshine Hillygus and Todd Sheilds:
Same sex marriage “played no role among independents in battleground
states, and even in states where the issue was on the ballot.”
…
Evolving Message
Opposition to Same Sex Marriage
Opposition to Same Sex Marriage initially centered on two assertions:
1) Homosexuality is Morally Inferior
2) Homosexual unions, being non-procreative are inferior
Frederick Liu and Stephen Macedo
The opposition has shifted to second claim and away from “overt hostility to
gays.” Now the focus is on the “discussion of children and preservation of
marriage.”
…
Marriage and Procreation
Critique of Non-Procreative Marriage:
The argument is that same sex marriage will undermine heterosexual unions
by decoupling marriage from procreation.
This claim has two parts:
1) Natural law theorists argue that family is the central unit in society and
that marriage is thus linked to procreation.
2) Removing children from marriage will undo marriages. It will weaken
heterosexual adults interest in the institution.
Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: SSM (Concept 1) and 2004 Election (Concept 2).
Hypothesis: State bans on SSM (IV) aided Bush’s reelection (DV).
Operational Definitions:
IV: (SSM): States with SSM bans on the ballot (Sec of
State).
DV: (Bush Reelection): Bush Won/Increase Repub. Voting % by state
(Exit Polls/Sec of State).
Review: Levels of Analysis
Hypothesis: State bans on SSM (IV) aided Bush’s reelection (DV).
Operational Definitions:
IV: (SSM): States with SSM bans on the ballot (Sec of
State).
DV: (Bush Reelection): Bush Won/Increase Repub. Voting % in state
(Exit Polls/Sec of State)
Selection Bias: Variation on DV
DV: (Bush Win): Increase Rep. Voting % in state
DV: (Bush Loss): Decrease Rep. Voting % in state
You cannot limit your analysis only to states where there was a ban on
SSM and where Bush won (or the Rep % increased) . You need consider
the possibility that there where state where SMM passed and Bush lost or
where the percentage of Republican voters did not increase.
Review: Levels of Analysis
Theory: SSM and 2004 Election
Hypothesis: State bans on SSM (IV) aided Bush’s reelection (DV). Rep
voters are more likely turnout where SSM ban was on the ballot.
Operational Definitions:
IV: (SSM): States with SSM bans on the ballot (Sec of
State)
DV: (Bush Reelection): Voter support for Bush (polls/
surveys)
Selection Bias: Variation on DV
DV: (Bush Win): Voter support for Bush (polls)
DV: (Bush Loss): Voter support for Bush (polls)
Essay Outlines
Introduction:
Topic: SSM and 2004 Election
Question: How did State bans on SSM impact the Bush’s reelection?
Thesis: Bans on SSM helped Bush win reelection in several key states
Hypothesis: In states where bans on SSM (IV) were passed, Bush was reelection
(DV).
Literature Review: What have other said about the topic?
Argument/Analysis: (Operational Definitions):
How do you plan to test/demonstrate your argument:
IV: (SSM): States with SSM bans on the ballot
DV: (Bush Win): Rep. Voting % in state
DV: (Bush Loss): Rep. Voting % in state
Essay Outlines
Introduction:
Topic: SSM and 2004 Election
Question: How did State bans on SSM impact the Bush’s reelection?
Thesis: (Hypothesis): State bans on SSM (IV) aided Bush’s reelection
(DV).
Literature Review: What have other said about the topic?
Argument/Analysis: (Operational Definitions):
How do you plan to test/demonstrate your argument:
IV: (SSM): States with SSM bans on the ballot
DV: (Bush Win): Rep. Voting % in state
DV: (Bush Loss): Rep. Voting % in state