Approaches

Question 1

positivism - what moulds peoples behaviours?

Answer 1

social structures and facts independent to the individual

Question 2

positivism - how is social behaviour measured/explained?

Answer 2

objectively, using similar methods used in natural sciences

Question 3

positivism - hypothetico-deductive model

Answer 3

hypothesis for social phenomena formed then tested against empirical measurable data

Question 4

positivism - scale of research

Answer 4

large-scale
macro research
large numbers of people

Question 5

positivism - associated with what theories?

Answer 5

structural theories

Question 6

positivism - provides what type of data? & advantages?

Answer 6

quantitative empirical data
generalised
reliable
enables cause-and-effect explanations

Question 7

positivism - how to avoid risk of personal values influencing research?

Answer 7

detachment and objectivity

Question 8

positivism criticisms - interpretivist

Answer 8

method is invalid as researcher imposes framework on respondents

Question 9

positivism criticisms - detachment

Answer 9

researcher can’t develop closeness/empathy to understand meanings and interpretations people hold

Question 10

positivism criticisms - statistics

Answer 10

social constructions created by the categories positivist researchers create

Question 11

positivism criticisms - official statistics

Answer 11

social constructions as officials decide what statistics to/not to collect

Question 12

interpretivism - what are they trying to understand?

Answer 12

the meanings individuals give to situations and how they direct social action

Question 13

interpretivism - why don’t they use natural sciences method?

Answer 13

its inappropriate

peoples meanings cannot be measured by quantitative methods

Question 14

interpretivism - inductive approach

Answer 14

open-ended process to develop theories by evidence gained through research

Question 15

interpretivism - grounded theory

Answer 15

theory arises from analysis of data collected

Question 16

interpretivism - verstehen

Answer 16

weber

developing closeness/empathy to understand the world through their eyes and the meanings behind their actions

Question 17

interpretivism - which research method is used and why?

Answer 17

qualitative research methods

give in-depth description

Question 18

interpretivism - how to produce valid understanding of society?

Answer 18

close involvement

Question 19

interpretivism - scale of research

Answer 19

small-scale
micro research
small number of people

Question 20

interpretivism - associated with what theories?

Answer 20

social action theories

Question 21

interpretivism criticisms - positivist

Answer 21

lack of reliability

depends heavily on personal characteristics/skills of researcher

Question 22

interpretivism criticisms - subjective findings

Answer 22

depends on researchers interpretations of the answers people give

Question 23

interpretivism criticisms - close involvement

Answer 23

findings invalid
interviewer bias
hawthorne effect

Question 24

interpretivism criticisms - small-scale

Answer 24

not generalisable

limited use