During the historical formation of political thought gradually formed the main research methods in political science.This historic development can be divided into several periods.
Time interval until the 19th century is a period classic.During this period, to introduce such methods of political science as a moral and axiological, philosophical and logical-deductive.
period from the 19th century, 20 researchers define as an institutional period.At this time, in the first place are legal and institutional, historical and comparative methods of political science.
From the 20's to the 70 years of the 20th century lasted behaviorist period.At this stage, we have implemented mainly quantitative methods of political science.
In the last third of the 20th century came postbihevioristsky period.At this stage, a mixture of traditional and new methods of political science.
Since the days of Aristotle and Plato knows comparative (comparative) analysis tool and evaluation theory.It is based on a comparison of the two (or more) political objects.Using this tool it is possible to establish the common features of objects or determining their differences.The use of comparative political analysis allows us to develop a system of political knowledge, verifiable, to assess institutions, experience, behavior and procedures on the basis of causality.In addition, this tool makes it possible to predict the consequences, trends and developments.
sociological method of political science is a complex of methods and means of certain sociological studies.These studies are aimed at the collection and processing of the facts of political life that takes place at the moment.By means of sociological research should be classified as questionnaires, surveys, statistical analyzes, experiments, mathematical modeling.On the basis of the richest actual material, it is possible to study the processes and phenomena.
anthropological methods that are closely related to human nature, quite common in the analysis of the institutions of power, machinery, means of social control that existed mainly in pre-industrial society.This method can also be applied in evaluating the problem of transformation and adaptation of traditional control instruments in the process of transition from the classic to the modern systems.
study of subjective mechanisms of behavior, character traits, personal qualities typical means of logical motivation in politics is based on a psychological method of political science.It is based on the outstanding ideas of Seneca, Aristotle, Rousseau, Machiavelli and other thinkers.Among the sources of modern psychological method are important ideas of psychoanalysis.
In some ways revolutionized the science of politics has made the behaviorist approach, which was formed as an alternative legal.Behaviorist method of analysis and assessment is based on a kind of "individualization".Followers of this method is considered politics as an independent social phenomenon, a type of social behavior groups (or individuals) characterized by the motivations and attitudes that have close ties with the ruling and authority.
The use of expert assessments as a method of analysis is useful when dealing with various non-formalizable tasks.These include development of administrative decisions, the forecast of political development, assessment of the situation.
to develop a cybernetic process model uses the communicative method.In this case, the political interaction explores how informative flows.This is a major decision and reaction to it.
modeling method includes the study of political phenomena and processes with the help of research and development models.It should be noted that today it is the most promising way.
