Chapter 2 Flashcards
scientific method
series of steps leading to proof
research methodology
system of methods a researcher uses to gather data on a particular research question
August Compte
coined the term sociology
positivism: social sciences could be studied with the methods of natural science (experiments)
outsider vs. insider perspective
quantitative research
used to generate statistics
macrosociologists approach
surveys, polls
qualitative research
close examination of characteristics that can’t be counted or measured
microsociologists approach
ethnography
qualitative research methods
ethnography
institutional ethography
case study approach
narratives
content analysis
discourse analysis
genealogy
ethnography
seeks to uncover the symbols and categories that members of a given culture use to interpret their world
institutional ethnography
discovered by dorothy smith
every institution has 2 sides (2 sets of data)
ruling interests(those held in power)
ruling relations (those that work and follow rules)
experential data
comes from informants
case study approach
research that takes a case study approach:
community
family
relationships
often used to describe best practices: strategies with proven results
narratives approach
stories people tell about themselves
content analysis
involves studying a set of cultural artifacts or events and interpreting the themes that they reflect
discourse analysis
conversion, a speech or a written text
genealogy
it seeks to trace the origins of modern discourse
orientalism: western fascination with romanticization of ‘exotic’ Middle and Far Eastern cultures
what is triangulation
using multiple research methods in a n experiment to get a result
