Practice of Political Science
Observations made using statistical techniques, often conveyed in charts, graphs, tables and maps
Quantitative Data
The total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year
Gross domestic product (GDP)
A group of people who share a sense of belonging and who often have a common language, culture, religion, race, or set of traditions
Nation
Government
An assertion of fact that can be proven
Empirical statement
An aggregate measure of life expectancy, education and per capita income
Human Development Index (HDI)
Political institutions with international recognition that govern a population in a territory
State
A state's ability to act without internal or external interference
Sovereignty
Qualitative data
A nongovernmental organization that advocates for democracy and human rights and measures freedom around the world.
Freedom House
A change in leaders, without fundamental changes in the system of government
A set of appointed officials and government workers who carry out policies
Bureaucracy
In statistical analysis, an apparent connection between two variable. It is positive when two variables move in the same direction.
Correlation
A measure of income inequality within a country
Gini index (coefficient)
An overthrow of government by a small number of people, often military leaders
Coup d'état
When a group has a strong sense of identity and believes it has its own destiny
Nationalism
In statistical analysis, this occurs when a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable.
Causation
Created by Transparency International, a measure of how corrupt a system is believed to be.
Corruption Perceptions Index
A change in the fundamental rules and system of government
Regime change
A system in which elections may be marred by fraud and the state protects some civil rights and liberties but restricts others.
Illiberal democracy