Study Questions for Riker

  1. How has the study of politics changed?
  2. What are the obstacles to a science of politics?
  3. What are the primary elements of positivistic science?
  4. How does price theory exemplify positivistic science?
  5. Can positivistic science be extended to other areas of social science?
  6. What are the theories Riker uses as examples of potential positivistic social science? How have these theories been developed and extended?
  7. Why is political science likely to develop into a science?
  8. How does rational choice solve the apparent contradiction of objectivity and humanity?
  9. How does one specify motivation in a rational choice model?
  10. How do rational choice theories handle regularities?
  11. What's so great about science?
  12. Is Riker a naturalist or interpretivist?
  13. Is Riker an individualist or holist?
  14. Does Riker value explanation or understanding?

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

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