Study Questions for Ball

  1. What is the author's main point?
  2. What is the supposed difference between empirical and normative political science?
  3. According to Kuhn, what are the types of science? What are the characteristics of each?
  4. What are the weaknesses with Kuhn's account?
  5. How did/do political scientists react to Kuhn?
  6. According to Lakatos, what are the different types of falsificationism? Which one does he support and why (and why does he not support the others)?
  7. According to Lakatos, what constitutes scientific progress?
  8. What are the parts of a research program?
  9. What are the similarities and differences between Kuhn and Lakatos?
  10. According to Laudan, what constitutes scientific progress?
  11. What are the parts of a research tradition?
  12. What are the similarities and differences between Lakatos and Laudan?
  13. How has the rational choice research tradition been progressive or degenerating?
  14. How should political scientists treat their own research traditions? Other research traditions? Why?
  15. Why does any of this matter to political scientists?
  16. Is there progress in political science?

Things to look for/keep in mind for future readings:

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