Lesson 4: Social Science Research/Philosophical and Interpretive Framework

Question 1

What should the value of theory and its necessity for class conducting good research be in a qualitative study?

Answer 1

Clear.

Question 2

What components of the qualitative research should be clear?

Answer 2

The value of theory and its necessity for class conducting good research.

Question 3

What happens if we proceed without theory?

Answer 3

We rarely conduct top-quality research and frequently find ourselves in a quandary.

Question 4

What did the researchers not do if the research is not top-quality and if they find themselves in a quandry?

Answer 4

They did not proceed with theory.

Question 5

What happens when theorists proceed without linking theory to research or anchoring it to empirical reality?

Answer 5

They can float off into incomprehensible speculation and conjecture.

Question 6

What did the researchers do if they begin to float off into incomprehensible speculation and conjecture?

Answer 6

They proceeded without linking the theory to research or anchoring it to empirical reality.

Question 7

What is social theory?

Answer 7

Social theory is:

1. a system of interconnected abstractions or ideas;
2. a part of the qualitative research that expands understanding of the social world

Question 8

What is a system of interconnected abstractions or ideas?

Answer 8

Social theory

Question 9

What is a part of the qualitative research that expands understanding of the social world?

Answer 9

Social theory

Question 10

What do theories do?

Answer 10

Theories move understanding from one specific situation toward general understanding and knowledge

Question 11

What moves understanding from one specific situation toward general understanding and knowledge?

Answer 11

Theories

Question 12

What is the purpose of social theory?

Answer 12

The purpose of social theory is to explain or answer why the social world has certain patterns, operations, or events.

Question 13

What is Blame Analysis not?

Answer 13

Theory.

Question 14

What realm does “blame” belong to?

Answer 14

Blame belongs to the realm of making moral,legal or ideological claim.

Question 15

What belongs to the realm of making moral, legal, or ideological claim?

Answer 15

Blame.

Question 16

What does blame imply?

Answer 16

Blame implies an intention, negligence, or even responsibility for an event or situation.

Question 17

What implies an intention, negligence, or responsibility for an event or situation?

Answer 17

Blame.

Question 18

What does Blame Analysis focus on?

Answer 18

Blame analysis focuses on the question of why did it occur or what makes events happen as they do.

Question 19

What focuses on the question of why did it occur or what makes events happen as they do?

Answer 19

Blame Analysis.

Question 20

What does Blame Analysis assume?

Answer 20

Blame analysis assumes there is a culprit or source on which we ca fix responsibility.

Question 21

What assumes there is a culprit or source on which we ca fix responsibility?

Answer 21

Blame Analysis.

Question 22

What does Blame Analysis spread?

Answer 22

Blame analysis spreads misunderstanding because it confuses blame with cause.

Question 23

What spreads misunderstanding because it confuses blame with cause?

Answer 23

Blame Analysis.

Question 24

What is Blame Analysis?

Answer 24

Blame Analysis:

1. focuses on the question of why did it occur or what makes events happen as they do;
2. assumes there is a culprit or source on which we ca fix responsibility; and
3. spreads misunderstanding because it confuses blame with cause.

Question 25

What are the parts of theory?

Answer 25

1. Concepts,
2. Assumptions, and
3. Relationships

Question 26

What do all theories contain?

Answer 26

Concepts.

Question 27

What are concepts?

Answer 27

Concepts are building blocks of theory.

Question 28

What are the two parts of concept?

Answer 28

1. Symbol, and

2. Definition

Question 29

What is a written form or a word?

Answer 29

Symbol.

Question 30

What is pervasive in daily life but most layperson concepts have vague and unclear definitions?

Answer 30

Definition.

Question 31

What is a symbol?

Answer 31

a written form or a word

Question 32

What is a definition?

Answer 32

pervasive in daily life but most layperson concepts have vague and unclear definitions

Question 33

What are assumptions?

Answer 33

Assumptions are:

1. statements about the nature of things that are not observable or testable;
2. a necessary starting point since concepts and build theories based on the assumptions we make about the nature of human beings, social reality, or a particular phenomenon; and
3. one way to deepen our understanding of a concept is to identify explicitly the assumptions on which it rests.

Question 34

What are statements about the nature of things that are not observable or testable?

Answer 34

Assumptions.

Question 35

What is a necessary starting point?

Answer 35

Assumptions.

Question 36

What is one way to deepen our understanding of a concept?

Answer 36

Assumptions.

Question 37

What do theories contain?

Answer 37

Theories contain concepts and assumptions.

Question 38

What do theories specify?

Answer 38

Theories specify how assumptions and concepts relate to one another (proposition).

Question 39

What do theories tell us?

Answer 39

Theories tells us whether two concepts are related or not, and if related, how the concepts relate to one another.

Question 40

What reasons do theories offer?

Answer 40

Theories offer reasons for why the relationship exists.

Question 41

How can relationships be related to theories or how is it essential to theories?

Answer 41

They are essential because:

1. Theories specify how assumptions and concepts relate to one another (proposition);
2. Theories tells us whether two concepts are related or not, and if related, how the concepts relate to one another; and
3. Theories offer reasons for why the relationship exists.