POLSCI 3310 The Rational Actor Model is all about you o Free Rider effect Maximized benefits with no cost it s all about ME Role of Values A scientific approach to anything you pursue is valueless i e studying something one should be very thoughtful in their approaches to studying anything as it can create bias Statistics Probability Induction to see if something is occurring or wanting to see an occurrence in the world Testing a theory cannot always comprehend Revolutions in scientific paradigms we don t know what is always the cause Thomas Kuhn Scientific Paradigms Most of the scientific revolution was written by him Over long periods of time different disciplines will have a shift in how they do things Copernican revolution Copernicus suggested that the sun was the center of this solar system that Earth along with the other planets revolved around it as opposed to Earth being stationary at the center Galileo challenged the principal of motion that an object must be continually pushed in order to stay in motion without friction an object set in motion would stay in motion Graphs The simplest way to prove a point 2 dimensional x axis y axis Independent variable is horizontal x dependent variable is vertical y Use complete graph Types of relationships Positive Negative inverse Curvlinear Scattergram Definition of slope rise run or y x Also known as change in y largest y smallest y change in x largest x smallest x Given the x value one CAN predict the y value Graphs and tables are the easiest to use to determine relationships Graphs are generally continuous Something is useful when compared to another example in the same field