There has been a serious debate within academia about the validity of political science as a real science. Furthermore, there are opposing views among political scientists regarding whether the discipline is a social science or a synthesis of natural and social sciences. One such academic; Charles Merriam states that political science has the characteristics of both sciences, because it adapts the study of human behavior to provide an analysis of political institutions. Political scientists in theory espouse the idea that political science borrows elements from the hard sciences in terms of the objectivity of scientific inquiry and how government institutions function. Being a soft science, it is extremely difficult to find rigorously measurable criteria for a methodology and objectively. Furthermore, according to James Farr, political science is a discipline that uses behaviorism as a basis for understanding political institutions. Contrast this with the hard sciences, which use the scientific method and objectivity as the cornerstone of scientific analysis. However, theories are formed as a result of methodological interpretation. Additionally, political scientists analyze social and political issues in an effort to develop theories about political behavior and the functioning of institutions. Therefore, political scientists use political methodology as an investigative tool to investigate the prevalent problems occurring with political institutions. Therefore, political scientists use political methodology as an investigative tool to investigate the prevalent problems occurring with political institutions. There is a prevailing idea among academics in the field that political science borrows elements from the hard… middle of paper… empirical evidence and scientific inquiry to form a theory. Furthermore, political scientists adhere to the same principles as their colleagues, because they arrive at their theories through reviewing the literature and engaging in open dialogue about a particular issue. Therefore, political science is a scientific discipline that despite the factions, which exists between academic within the discipline. Furthermore, it is necessary for both political theorists and methodologists to put aside their ideological differences and conduct research with an objective approach. Furthermore, political science is a synthesis of soft and hard sciences, because it studies human behavior to gain an empirical understanding of political issues. Finally, the discipline emulates hard science, applying a scientific method of research and analysis of political institutions.