A model discipline: political science and the logic of representations

Political scientists use models to investigate and illuminate causal mechanisms, generate comparative data, and more. But how do we justify and rationalize the method? Why test predictions from a deductive, and thus truth-preserving, system? Primo and Clarke tackle these central questions in this novel work of methodology

Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- 1 A Model Discipline -- 1.1 The Model in Political Science -- 1.2 Metaphors and Analogies, Fables and Fictions -- 1.3 The Broad Themes of the Book -- 1.4 Plan of the Book -- 1.5 What This Book Is Not -- 2 The Science in Political Science -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 What Political Scientists Say They Are Doing -- 2.3 Hypothetico-Deductivism -- 2.4 Problems with H-D -- 2.5 How We Got Here -- 2.6 Conclusion -- 3 What Is a Model? -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Models as Maps -- 3.3 A Few Examples From Political Science -- 3.4 The Received View of Scientific Theories -- 3.5 The Semantic Conception of Scientific Theories -- 3.6 The Model-Based View of Scientific Theories -- 3.7 Models and Theories -- 3.8 Conclusion -- 4 Theoretical Models -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Aspects of Theoretical Models -- 4.3 The Purposes of Models -- 4.4 Judging a Theoretical Model -- 4.5 Conclusion -- 5 Empirical Models -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 What Is an Empirical Model? -- 5.3 The Purposes of Empirical Models -- 5.4 The Illogic of Theory Testing -- 5.5 The Other Uses of Empirical Modeling -- 5.6 Conclusion -- 6 Explanation -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Existing Justifications For Linking Theoretical and Empirical Models -- 6.3 Explanation -- 6.4 Models as Explanations -- 6.5 Choosing among Explanations -- 6.6 Conclusion -- 7 Conclusion -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Review of the Argument -- 7.3 Issues and Counterarguments -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Name Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y -- Z -- Subject Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W.

Political scientists use models to investigate and illuminate causal mechanisms, generate comparative data, and more. But how do we justify and rationalize the method? Why test predictions from a deductive, and thus truth-preserving, system? Primo and Clarke tackle these central questions in this novel work of methodology.