Chapter 2 Flashcards
Research methodology
System of methods a researcher uses to gather data on a particular research question. Contested field in sociology
Scientific method
Series of steps leading to proof. The steps are:
1. Observation
2. Identify a research question
3. Conduct background research
4. Formulate a hypothesis
5. Select a research design
6. Gather data
7. Analyze dat a
8. Revise hypothesis or present results
August Comte
Coined the term sociology and Comte’s sociology was rooted in positivism
Positivism
Belief that the social sciences could be studied using the methods of natural sciences
Outsider
“Expert” who occupies a privileged position over the insider “subjects or study”
Insider voice
Insider voice of subject being studied provides information that comes from there subjective experiences
Objective outsider
Experts use there privileged to decide over authenticity of the insider perspective, this is where vital information gets lost
Quantitative research
Focuses on social elements that can be counted or measured, which can therefore be used to generate statistics (macro sociologist approach)
Qualitative research
Is the close examination of characteristics that cannot be counted or measured (microsociology approach)
Triangulation / mixed method approach
Qualitative and quantitative
Qualitative methods include: (7)
- Ethnography
- Institutional ethnography
- Case study approach
- Narratives
- Content analysis
- Discourse analysis
- Genealogy
Ethnography
Seeks to uncover the symbols and categories members of the given culture use to interpret the world
Participant observation
Observing people and actively participating in their activities to obtain an insiders perspective
Semi-structured interviews
Informal, face-to-face interviews
Informants
Insiders who help researcher becoming accepted by community
Institutional ethnography
Developed by Dorothy Smith, recognizes every institution has two sides associated with:
1. Ruling interests
2. Experiential data
Ruling interests
Interests of organization / administration and the interests of those who hold power in society
- ruling relations
Experiential data
Come from informants: anyone who works for organization, outside of management
Case studies
Research design that takes as its subject a single case or a few selected examples of a social entity such as:
- community
- family
- roles
- relationship
Best practices
Case study used for this. Strategies with a proven history of achieving desired results
Narratives
Stories people tell about themselves, their situation, and others around them
Content analysis
Involves studying a set of cultural artifacts or events and interpreting the themes they reflect
Two distinct properties:
1. They are not created for specifically to be studied
2. Data are pre-existing and non-interactive
Discourse analysis (2 types)
- Analyzing discourse as the term is commonly understood
- Discourse analysis considers a broader definition of “text” going beyond individual works and authors in include larger fields
Discourse
Conceptual framework with own internal logic
Field
Comprises all known discourses on a particular cultural concepts, such as masculinity
Genealogy
Method of examining history of the second type of discourse
Absolute poverty
Anything below minimum income level needed for basic necessities
Relative poverty
Defines poverty relative to median or mean household incomes
Research ethics
Entails demonstrating respect for the research subjects
Informed consent
Given when participants indicate their understanding to conditions
