BEHAVIOURAL

APPROACH
1. Meaning
2. Objective
2.Essential Nature

POLITICAL SCIENCE
-Jhanvi Pandya
 Meaning
 The modern empirical approach, the behavioural approach, to study political science grabbed notable
place as it focues on the actual behaviour of individual and groups in real organisations.

 Most eminent exponents of this approach are Charles Merriam, David Etson, Robert, A. Dahl, E. M.
Kirkpatrick, and Heinz Eulau. Behavioral approach is political theory which is the result of increasing
attention given to behavior of ordinary man.

 David Truman, defined behaviouralism: Defined generally the term political behaviour comprehends
those actions and interactions of men and groups which are involved in the process of governing.

 Theorist, Kirkpatrick stated that traditional approaches accepted institution as the basic unit of research
but behavioural approach consider the behaviour of individual in political situation as the basis.
 Objectives
• Behaviouralism asserts that for an acceptable scientific theory of social science it is
essential that the political behaviour of individuals is to be studied and not the units and
organisations which deal with political questions and principles. It is because the
political behaviour of actors constitutes the central aspects of politics.

• Attempt to improve our understanding of politics by seeking to explain the empirical

aspects of political life by means of methods, theories and criteria of proof that are
acceptable and assumption of modern empirical science.
 Nature
1. Empirical Methods: Behavioural approach advocates the use of empirical methods of study involving
data collection through field methods, and analysis of data using statistical and mathematical measurement
techniques. It advocates a study of facts of political life.

2. Scientific Theory of Politics: Behavioural Approach rejects the traditional approach and theory of
politics. It accepts and advocates the need for building a scientific theory of politics. Political Theory should
be as much scientific and precise as are the natural sciences.

3. Behaviouralism is not based on speculation. What it says everything is based on facts and data. One may
not agree without the conclusions. But the behaviouralists are helpless because their conclusions are based
on data. So behaviouralism is different from speculative subjects.

It has no association with moralism and normative approach. Behaviouralist claims that he does not say
anything on the basis of his liking or disliking
 4. Interdisciplinary Focus: It advocates the study of politics with the help of knowledge drawn from
other social sciences, particularly sociology, psychology and anthropology. It even accepts the need
to use concepts drawn from natural sciences. 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 social science disciplines.

5 . Behaviouralism makes political science a comprehensive subject : The behaviouralists do not stop by
collecting data and facts. They analyse them, construct general conclusions and also make suggestions.
The data and facts they collect are not particular. That is they relate to all acts and facets of governmental
activities and policies. When the policies are implemented, behaviouralists collect data in relation to the
political behaviour of persons or voters. It treats it in a comprehensive way.

Also accepts interdisciplinary subjects

• 6. Behaviouralism, positivism and empiricism are closely connected. In fact, it is very difficult to analyse
behaviouralism without empiricism and positivism. Empiricism means verification of statements and
conclusions by empirical data and facts. If any statement fails to stand the test of data or verification that is
subject to rejection.

• Again, it has also a intimate relationship with positivism. This term was coined by Comte (1798-1857). By
positivism he meant the rejection of value judgments in social science. In other words, both empiricism and
positivism tell us that what would be the conclusion or statement that will depend on what facts and data
exactly say. In analysis of behaviouralism we have seen that it has made utmost efforts to overlook value
judgment in its analysis of political behaviour.
 Credo of Behaviouralism
• According to one of the notable behaviouralist David Easton, there are some salient features of
behaviouralism which are regarded as its intellectual foundations. Viz;

1. Regularities

2. Quantification

3. Values

4. Systematization

5. Pure Science

6. Verification

7. Techniques

8. Integration
THANKYOU