Module 2 - Research strategies: Understanding & Explaining

Question 1

Ontology

Answer 1

The study of being and the nature of being
→ What is the fundamental nature of reality?

Question 2

Objectivism

Answer 2

Ontological view → Whether social entities can and should be considered objective entities that exist separately from social actors. Focuses on facts and causal explanations.

Question 3

Constructivism

Answer 3

Ontological view → Whether social entities can and should be considered social constructions built from the perceptions and actions of social actors. Focuses on perspectives and stories.

Question 4

Epistemology

Answer 4

The study of knowledge.
→ How to obtain knowledge?

Question 5

Karl Popper

Answer 5

Objective knowledge → We are able to compare different theories with each other and test them against the facts to eliminate theories that are wrong.

Question 6

Thomas Khun

Answer 6

Constructivism → There are different perspectives (paradigms) which are incommensurable (contrasting)

Question 7

Induction problem

Answer 7

What if we have a confirmatory observation against our theory?

Question 8

Falsification

Answer 8

Solution to induction problem.

Question 9

Interprative approach

Answer 9

Verstehen

Question 10

Positivist approach

Answer 10

Erklären

Question 11

Positivism

Answer 11

Natural Science Model

Question 12

Goals of positivism

Answer 12

Nomoethic explanations → Searching for universal, causal general laws to uncover patterns in human behaviour
Reductionism → Focus on the influence of certain variables

Question 13

Empiricism

Answer 13

Gaining knowledge through experiences and our senses

Question 14

Positivism on values and normative judgements

Answer 14

(1) Science can and should be value free → objective knowledge is based on facts, not on norms, opinions or beliefs
(2) The strict division between normative and scientific statements

Question 15

Interpretivism’s traditions

Answer 15

Hermeneutics → the study of interpretation of (holy) texts
Phenomenology → study of meaning-making of people
Verstehen → empathetic understanding

Question 16

Goal of interpretivism

Answer 16

Understanding social action, where nature of explanation is idographic.
Holism → understanding phenomneon as integrated whole, the whole context