WEEK 2.5

Question 1

when should you test hypotheses against observations?

Answer 1

• whenever possible
• e.g. HDI is unmeasureable but look at health statistics, etc.

Question 2

relationship between hypotheses and judgments

Answer 2

• the further hypotheses go beyond what is directly observable, the riskier our judgments about them
• i.e. shorter chains = better

Question 3

how do direct vs indirect observation manifest?

Answer 3

as latent vs. manifest variables

Question 4

Duverger’s law

Answer 4

• plurality (aka simple majority) approach to elections favours 2-party systems
• DN model inapplicable here b ecause law is not deterministic but can apply IS model

Question 5

reconstructing an interpretation makes us see that:

Answer 5

• central hypotheses are insufficient on their own to derive testable conclusion and must be supplemented with auxiliaries
• auxiliaries must be made explicit for testable conclusion to follow
• different ways to react to refutation (e.g. we can revise central hypothesis and/or auxiliaries)