Pre-University (CIE) Comparative Government: Specimen Questions with Answers 32 - 32 of 53

Question 32

Essay▾

Discuss the Intellectual foundation stones of Behaviouralism as given by David Easton.

Behaviouralism as a movement in political science did not remain confined to the study of individual based political behaviour, but developed into a set of orientations, procedures and methods of analysis.
In practice, it embraced all that lends a scientific character to the modern political science.
According to Easton, (1962) the intellectual foundations of Behaviouralism consist of eight major tenets:
- Regularities: These are discoverable uniformities in political behaviour which can be expressed in theory-like statements.
- Verification: this means that validity of such theory like statements can be verified.
- Techniques: Techniques are means for acquiring and interpreting data.
- Quantification: This involves precision in the recording of data.
- Values: Objective scientific inquiry has to be value free or value neutral.
- Systematization: Close interrelationship between theory and research.
- Pure Science: Directed towards forging a link between theoretical understanding of politics and application of theory to practical problem- solving.
- Integration: Integration of political science with other social sciences.