Social Science Research Methods Flashcards
Definition of hypothetico-deductive approach
Scientific statements in the form of hypotheses and theories get tested and refuted
Definition of induction
Scientific statements that arise from observations which is generalised to form a hypothesis
Definition of deduction
Testing hypotheses generated by induction
Definition of primary data
Information gathered through original/1st hand research via questionnaires and surveys
Definition of secondary data
Information gathered by someone else in the past
Definition of empirical generalisation
Findings found in a sample population are generalised to the whole target population
Definition of conceptual generalisation
Empirical findings that can be generalized to identify a pattern
Does not apply to everyone
Definition of sensitising concepts
A generalisation that doesn’t apply to everyone but sensitises clinician to the possibility that this finding may apply to some patients
What are the 2 ways of generating new knowledge
Describe them
Induction
-scientific statements are made from the findings of specific observations
Hypothetico-deductive
-scientific statements in the form of hypotheses and theories that get tested and refuted
What are the pros and cons of RCTs
Pros
-Provides the strongest evidence on efficacy
Cons
- Mechanism of action unknown
- Not always effective
- Not everything can be randomized ethically
- Hard to separate single causal effects in complex intervention
Why is the method of induction used in social science research
Research questions generally focus on
- reasons
- mechanisms
- contexts instead of the causes
Natural objects don’t react when observed but humans change their behaviour when observed
What is the Hawthorn effect
Workers in a factory increased productivity because they were being observed, not because of the changes in factory conditions
What are the 2 types of data used in social science
Quantitative
-use nos to describe the patterning of demographics, knowledge and beliefs to be studied
Qualitative
-use words collected through interviews with respondents/via observation
What are the 2 types of quantitative data
Primary
-Data collected yourself via questionnaires
Secondary
-Data collected by others in official records (census, hospital and admin records)
When is secondary quantitative data often used
Social epidemiology
Disease distribution affected by social factors