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Salient Features of Behaviourism

The document outlines the key features and principles of behaviourism as an approach to political science. It discusses eight main characteristics: 1) focusing on regularities in political behavior that can be expressed through generalizations and theories, 2) emphasizing verification of claims through testing, 3) using sophisticated research tools to generate reliable data, 4) quantifying collected data, 5) separating facts from values to remain objective, 6) conducting research systematically with theory and evidence working together, 7) aiming to establish political science as a "pure science" based on evidence, and 8) integrating political science with other social sciences by recognizing external influences.

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20K views2 pages

Salient Features of Behaviourism

The document outlines the key features and principles of behaviourism as an approach to political science. It discusses eight main characteristics: 1) focusing on regularities in political behavior that can be expressed through generalizations and theories, 2) emphasizing verification of claims through testing, 3) using sophisticated research tools to generate reliable data, 4) quantifying collected data, 5) separating facts from values to remain objective, 6) conducting research systematically with theory and evidence working together, 7) aiming to establish political science as a "pure science" based on evidence, and 8) integrating political science with other social sciences by recognizing external influences.

Uploaded by

vikas004
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Salient Features of Behaviourism:

David Easton has pointed out certain salient features of behaviouralism which are
regarded as its intellectual foundations. These are:

Regularities: This approach believes that there are certain uniformities in political
behaviour which can be expressed in generalizations or theories in order to explain and
predict political phenomena. In a particular situation the Political behaviour of
individuals may be more or less similar. Such regularities of behaviour may help the
researcher to analyse a political situation as well as to predict the future political
phenomena. Study of such regularities makes Political Science more scientific with some
predictive value.

Verification: The behaviouralists do not want to accept everything as granted.


Therefore, they emphasize testing and verifying everything. According to them, what
cannot be verified is not scientific.

Techniques: The behaviouralists put emphasis on the use of those research tools and
methods which generate valid, reliable and comparative data. A researcher must make
use of sophisticated tools like sample surveys, mathematical models, simulation etc.

Quantification: After collecting data, the researcher should measure and quantify
those data.

Values: The behaviouralists have put heavy emphasis on separation of facts from
values. They believe that to do objective research one has to be value free. It means
that the researcher should not have any pre-conceived notion or a biased view.

Systematization: According to the behaviouralists, research in Political Science must


be systematic. Theory and research should go together.

Pure Science: Another characteristic of behaviouralism has been its aim to make
Political Science a “pure science”. It believes that the study of Political Science should
be verified by evidence.

Integration: According to the behaviouralists, Political Science should not be


separated from various other social sciences like history, sociology and economics etc.
This approach believes that political events are shaped by various other factors in the
society and therefore, it would be wrong to separate Political Science from other
disciplines.

It is recognized by theorists that with the development of behaviouralism, a new


thinking and new technique of study were evolved in the field of Political Science.
Benefits of behavioural approach are as follows:

1. This approach makes Political Science more scientific and brings it closer to the day to
day life of the individuals.
2. Behaviouralism has first explained human behaviour into the field of Political Science
and thus makes the study more relevant to the society.

3. This approach helps in predicting future political events.

4. The behavioural approach has been supported by different political thinkers as it is


scientific approach and predictable nature of political events.

Despite of merits, the Behavioural approach has been criticised for its fascination for
scienticism also. The main criticisms levelled against this approach are mentioned
below:

1. This has been disparaged for its dependence on practices and methods ignoring the subject
matter.
2. The supporters of this approach were wrong when they said that human beings behave in similar
ways in similar circumstances.

3. This approach focus on human behaviour but it is a difficult task to study human behaviour and
to get a definite result.

4. Most of the political phenomena are indeterminate. Therefore it is always difficult to use scientific
methods in the study of Political Science.

Furthermore, the scholar being a human being is not always value neutral as believed by the
behaviouralists.

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