Survey-Shmurvey

Behavioralism.....
An aspect of Behavioralism in aiding in predicting political behavior is basically marginalizing the normative theories because it doesn't help in the empirical science of politics. In respect to both SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, their attempts or pursuit in an coming up with an empirical statement is a method or chracteristic thats of behavioralism. They do surveys to come up a tangible truth that although can still be tested as to whether indeed true or false, can come out as something everyone can hold on to through large survey samples and very small error rates. To put this all short, their methods attempt to make all judgements made "scientific"

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A thousand and two hundred sample?

Statiscally, its prefferable to use a bigger sample size than that.. the ideal actually would be 60%.. but to answer whether or not 1,200 respondents are enough, maybe it is, judging all statistical methods and analysis be done smoothly and with extreme care. Compared to the entire population, 1.200 is really so small to come up with a generalized answer or to generalize the opinions of the Filipino people. But if continuous polls are done within the same people so that changes in time would be considered because people's minds are totally unpredictable and the slightest things make people's thoughts about something change. Also take into consideration what kind of people these respondents are, whether they belong to a specific economic level in the society, etc. Their exposure to media and the entirity of the topic being asked about should be considered too. All factors that may affect these people's votes should be studied carefully to come up with a mathematical equation that would justify the validity of the results of the surveys. But like i said, 1,200 is too small of a sample size, and, although possible, will be far more difficult than just choosing a bigger size. Many discrepancies may arise and errors in outcomes will surely show up.

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Alot can be done by carefully monitoring each and everything that goes on in these surveys, a deeper study on the statistical analysis and a constant adjusting of methods based on the attitudes of respondents might help make the results of these surveys more exact.

Politikus Sciencus

Science: sci-ence
-The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
-Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.
-Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.

Anyone asked what Politics is would easily say some shallow opinion on what it is, usually based on what they hear politics is like on t.v. not exactly giving an answer on what politics is. This is mainly because people have given the meaning of politics such small level of importance in their lives. To many it's something they'd say "i don't have to know what it is, what i know is that its messed up.". I looked up the dictionary definition of politics and i came up with this:

Politics: pol-i-tiks
-The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.

So it is a science therefore it should be something more than a meaningless random thing that anybody can simply ignore..

What makes it a science is probably that it's a thorough study of something, something which is the Social world. As we know, politics is a social activity.. it's something that majorly involves people and their thoughts and actions. But it goes beyond than just people talking, its also a system or culture everyone needs to have in order to survive in terms of rational order and peace living in a world full of "other" people. It's something so important that so many theories have been put up about it, so many political systems have been put up adjusting each on the values and norms of people in different places on Earth, in short.. politics is something no one can probably live without. It requires alot of study and a contionuous seeking for wisdom in how to make politics, so we'd say, perfect.

The study of politics, its processes, principles, and structure of government and of political institutions, involves both science, involving methodology and analysis, and hermeneutics which means interpretting. Social science is something that constantly changes, this is because people are pretty much unpredictable and studying it requires alot of adjusting and observing. But to understand the social nature of politics, the actions of the people involved in it should be interpretted. With how politics differ and evolve in many places, to come up with a standard interprettation of it is difficult. That's the study done in political study, to continually interpret it so someday we'll come up with a norm in politics, and also as a science it's continually understanding it and adjusting the patterns of political systems to it's actors.

To put this all short, the study of politics IS a science, it requires heck of information, historical research and analysis of events, it requires major observation on its nature and flow, it varies in different places, it requires a whole lot of studying. Its so complex that has been considered a mystery to many, because of its deep and varied nature. It requires scientists to interpret it and give the people a better understanding of how the world is, it creates theories of being and theories of people's social nature, it brings about many hypothesis, understanding it requires methodology and experiments, it requires statistics and scientific analysis, and in the end of all this study, hopefully a feasible valid conclusion will come about. Politics is a continuous search for social patterns, governing systems, peace and order giving bodies. Its a search for wisdom, understanding, harmony and Meaning. Doesn't that sound like your everyday science homework? I think that's enough reason to believe the study of Politics as being a science.

Political study is an art, branch, a discipline, education, erudition, information, learning, lore, scholarship, skill, system, technique, and wisdom. And i think that makes it analogous to any other form of science.