key topic information

Question 1

how do positivists see society

Answer 1

in a scientific way

Question 2

what are the 5 key things that positivists see as important

Answer 2

1. reliability - if you repeat you research and get the same/similar results
2. representativeness - if your research is representative of your whole population
3. generalizability - if it can apply to the whole population
4. verstehen - understanding/empathy
5. quantitative: data in the form of numbers

Question 3

what are the main 4 methods positivists use for research

Answer 3

1. questionnaires
2. structured interviews
3. experiments
4. official statistics

Question 4

how do interpretivists see society

Answer 4

in a non scientific way

Question 5

what are the 2 key things interpretivists see as important

Answer 5

1. validity: a true picture of social life
2. qualitative: data in the form of words

Question 6

what are the three things interpretivists use for research

Answer 6

1. unstructured interviews ( or focus groups)
2. observation
3. secondary documents - anything that is already written down

Question 7

what are 5 practical factors

Answer 7

1. time and money
2. requirements of funding bodies
3. recording data
4. gaining access
5. personal skills and characteristics

Question 8

what are 4 ethical factors

Answer 8

1. harm
2. informed consent
3. deception
4. confidentiality

Question 9

what are 4 theoretical factors

Answer 9

1. reliability
2. validity
3. representativeness
4. theoretical perspective