Why are clear definitions of concepts important in developing specific hypotheses?
What will be an ideal response?
Clear definitions are first and foremost important so that the knowledge we acquire from testing our hypotheses is transmissible and empirical. Because a particular discipline has some minimal level of shared consensus concerning its significant concepts, researchers can usually communicate more readily with other researchers in the same discipline than with researchers in other disciplines. Many interesting concepts that political scientists deal with are abstract and lack a completely precise, shared meaning. This hinders communication concerning research and creates uncertainty regarding the measurement of a phenomenon. Consequently, a researcher must explain what is meant by the concept so that a measurement strategy may be developed and so that those reading and evaluating the research can decide if the meaning accords with their own understanding of the term.
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It is useful for a research problem to be stated as precisely as possible because
a. specific questions are more likely to be proved correct. b. the more specific the question is, the easier it is to get statistical significance. c. a specific question allows the researcher to focus on only one variable at a time. d. specific questions help the researcher decide what techniques, participants, and measures to use.
A citizen applying for a means-tested program would apply to which of the following?
a. Social Security b. No Child Left Behind c. Medicare d. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families