Lecture 3: standard image and values (hermeneutics)

Question 1

difference correlate and causal

Answer 1

Correlation means there is a statistical association between variables. Causation means that a change in one variable causes a change in another variable

Question 2

important example for causal explanation

Answer 2

force = max x acceleration (law)
a mass of 3kg is subjected to a force of 18N (cause)
–> the mass accelerates by 6 m/s (effect)

Question 3

the problem of construct validity

Answer 3

correlational studies and survey methodologies rarely provide causal explanation. This is because:

• social science aren’t nicely “carved at the joints”
• theoretical entitties can be difficult to study directly (like aggression)
• it’s not evident that the factors, latent variables and constructs represent anything real

Question 4

realism

Answer 4

takes the goal of science to be the discovery of truths, including mechanisms and entities that aren’t directly observable. Realist holds that a valid construct is one that measures what it purports to measure

Question 5

anti-realism

Answer 5

denies that the goal of science could be the discovery ot truths or theory-independent facts. Anti-realist holds that a valid construct is one that simplifies and systematizes our past observations and permits accurate predictions of the future (instrumentalism)

Question 6

2 commitments that instrumentalism violates according to realists

Answer 6

1. measuring the properties of an entity requires commitment to its existence
2. any measurement instrument must be causally related to the things measured, such that changes in the object cause changes in this instrument

Question 7

characteristics of the hermeneutical approach

Answer 7

It’s all about the interpretation of social phenomena:

• objects of inquiry for social science are subjects
• what role does the context play (in which the word gender is used, or happiness is experienced?)
• problem of interpretation: the subjects are reactive/ responsive to the research

Question 8

Schutz about social scientific research

Answer 8

2 levels of social scientific research:

1. commonsense thinking (relate to insider perspective)
2. social scientific models (relate to outsider perspective)

Question 9

Taylor on the challenges of social science

Answer 9

• 2 langueges involved in the social science
  
  • everyday language
  • social scientific language
    social phenomeno obey to rules (practices)
• can’t adequately be described in ‘neutral language’
• translation of their everyday language

Question 10

Geerts on social science

Answer 10

• don’t concentrate on the individual, but on the culture to which the individual belongs
• describe the task of the social scientist as formulating thick descriptions that show what the individuals of a culture share with each other
• assumes culture is homogenous

Question 11

differences social and natural science

Answer 11

natural science

• investigation doesn’t change nature
• possible to replicate research
• empirical regularities are testable

social science

• investigation does change social reality
• makes replication of research difficult
• are empirical regularities testable?