Approches To Social Research Flashcards
Meta theory
A set of assumptions underlying explicit processes of theory-building an empirical research
Ontological
Epistemological
Methodological
Ethical
Ontology
What is real
What is the nature of reality
Epistemology
What is the truth
Nature of knowledge
What is reality- how can I obtain info about that reality
Methodology
How do we go about knowing
What strategies and practices can lead to valid knowledge of reality?
Ethics
Who will be affected
What ought to be?
Appropriate goals of knowing reality?
Importance of meta theory to research
Embedded in traditions
Rooted in world views that define appropriate rules and procedures
A word of caution
traditions are useful for building understanding but probe go over simplification
Real world social research frequently combines elements of different traditions
Three approaches to social research
Positivism
Interpretive humanism
Radical structuralism
Positivism
Views social life as resembling the natural world
Find in society - cause and effect
Resemble natural sciences
Interpretive humanism
Understand the thoughts and feelings of actors who create that world
With traditions such as symbolic interactionism and phenomenology (how we live in the world)
Radical structuralism
Unseen but real underlying structures to uncover these structures and demonstrate their impacts
Associated with Marxian and Freudian traditions
Diversity
A lot of disagreement takes place within each approach to social research
Actual researchers blur the boundaries of these categories
Commonality- a very modern perspective
Social world is real - that the progressive accumulation of knowledge about that reality is possible.
Rational set of methods in which researchers enjoy privileged status in comparison to their subjects
Each perspective ascribed a positive ethic purpose to the process of social research
Positivist approaches
Describe and explain the learning achieved by students
Predict the labor market outcomes of graduates and control supply to better match demand
Interpretive humanist approached
Understand the socialization of students into various professional roles
Interpret meanings associated with various student lifestyles
