A Model Discipline

Kevin A. Clarke is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. His research focuses on political methodology and model discrimination tests. Clarke's articles have appeared in American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Political Analysis, and many other journals.David M. Primo is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. His research focuses on American politics and political economy. Primo has authored or co-authored two books, The Plane Truth and Transportation Policy and Rules and Restraint, and many journal articles.

• 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 ; 1.3.1 Science is not what we think it is ; 1.3.2 Current practice is not "philosophy-free" ; 1.3.3 Models are objects ; 1.3.4 Models are not tested with data ; 1.3.5 Explanation ; 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 ; 2.4.1 Deductions are Truth-Preserving ; 2.4.2 Data Can't Speak for Themselves ; 2.4.3 Other Problems with H-D ; 2.5 How We Got Here ; 2.5.1 Logical Positivism ; 2.5.2 Pathologies of Rational Choice ; 2.5.3 Methods and Models ; 2.5.4 The Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models ; 2.6 Conclusion ; 3 What is a Model? ; 3.1 Introduction ; 3.2 Models as Maps ; 3.3 A Few Examples ; 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 ; 4.3.1 Foundational Models ; 4.3.2 Organizational Models ; 4.3.3 Exploratory Models ; 4.3.4 Predictive Models ; 4.4 Judging a Theoretical Model ; 4.4.1 Prediction is the Wrong Standard (Usually) ; 4.4.2 The Illusion of Precise Standards ; 4.4.3 Dimensions of Usefulness ; 4.5 Conclusion ; 5 Empirical Models ; 5.1 Introduction ; 5.2 What is an Empirical Model? ; 5.2.1 A Model-Based Understanding ; 5.3 The Purposes of Empirical Models ; 5.4 The Illogic of Theory Testing ; 5.4.1 Falsificationism ; 5.4.2 Verificationism ; 5.4.3 Bayesian Confirmation ; 5.5 The Other Uses of Empirical Modeling ; 5.6 Conclusion ; 6 Explanation ; 6.1 Introduction ; 6.2 Existing justifications ; 6.3 Explanation ; 6.3.1 What constitutes an explanation? ; 6.3.2 Explanation in Political Science ; 6.4 Models as explanations ; 6.5 Choosing among explanations ; 6.5.1 Comparative Model Testing ; 6.5.2 Is choosing necessary? ; 6.6 Conclusion ; 7 Conclusion ; 7.1 Introduction ; 7.2 Review of the argument ; 7.3 Issues and counterarguments ; Bibliography

This is an outstanding book that should be read, thought about, and discussed by every political scientist. Professors Clarke and Primo provide a clear discussion of what models are, a persuasive critique of current practice in the discipline, and solid guidance for how to effectively assess models of all types. This is a must-read.