Chapter 2: Theory and Method in Qualitative Methods, Reading Qualitative Research Articles Flashcards
Epistemology
this branch of philosophy asks questions about knowledge, beliefs and truth
for example: How do we determine what differentiates knowledge from beliefs? How do we recognize knowledge when we see it? How can we determine what a fact is? What is truth and how do we know when we’ve got it?
Ontology
this branch of philosophy asks questions about what things there are in the world
it is about what exists and what is real, and involves defining and cataloging these things
in psychology, it might involve questions about whether personality or intelligence exist
Naive Realism
is the view that our representations of things in the world are relatively straightforward reflections of the way those things actually are
Realtivism
the view that our representations of the things in the world are socially constructed and can’t be seen as simple reflections of how those things actually are
What is the relationship between psychology and philosophy?
the questions we ask, the methods we use to address those questions, and the way we interpret our results are rooted in some philosophical framework
What is ontology?
is concerned with identifying the kinds of things that actually exist and what the nature is for those things that exists
What is epistemology?
is concerned with the nature of knowledge itself, its possibility, scope, and general basis
how do we know we know?
What are entities?
things that “are”, what exists
can be physical or abstract concepts
What are representations?
how are entities understood?
how do we define, measure, and talk about it?
What is realism?
distinction between entities and representation
representations can be false, with entities being the absolute truth
What is relativism?
entities and representations are intertwined and one in the same
no separation between them
What are the three philosophical frameworks of qualitative methods?
positivism: primary perspective in science, associated more closely with quantitative methods
relativist social constructionism (RSC)
critical realism (CR)
RSC and CR are increasing in prominence in psychology, associated more closely with qualitative methods
What are the key features of positivism?
objective knowledge can be gained through objective methods
science as a tool towards objective truth
causality is nothing more than constant conjunction: only needs to be demonstrated through observation
psychologists can adopt the methods/assumptions of the natural sciences
What are the methodological implications of positivism?
skepticism of self-report
use of objective tools/methods is the key to value-free/objective research
use of quantitative methods seen as superior to qualitative methods
experimentation is the most important methodology
replication is important
What are the challenges to positivism?
do our representations truly reflect entities?: realism vs. relativism
many have argued that science is actually FAR from being objective: sociopolitical, cultural, and other factors
reflexive: reflecting upon one’s own views, attitudes, and experiences and the impact these may have upon the research being conducted
artificiality of laboratory experiments
oversimplifications of causality
neglecting representations –> descriptions of behaviors, not causes
