Social Science Research Methods

Question 1

Definition of hypothetico-deductive approach

Answer 1

Scientific statements in the form of hypotheses and theories get tested and refuted

Question 2

Definition of induction

Answer 2

Scientific statements that arise from observations which is generalised to form a hypothesis

Question 3

Definition of deduction

Answer 3

Testing hypotheses generated by induction

Question 4

Definition of primary data

Answer 4

Information gathered through original/1st hand research via questionnaires and surveys

Question 5

Definition of secondary data

Answer 5

Information gathered by someone else in the past

Question 6

Definition of empirical generalisation

Answer 6

Findings found in a sample population are generalised to the whole target population

Question 7

Definition of conceptual generalisation

Answer 7

Empirical findings that can be generalized to identify a pattern
Does not apply to everyone

Question 8

Definition of sensitising concepts

Answer 8

A generalisation that doesn’t apply to everyone but sensitises clinician to the possibility that this finding may apply to some patients

Question 9

What are the 2 ways of generating new knowledge

Describe them

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What are the pros and cons of RCTs

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Why is the method of induction used in social science research

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What is the Hawthorn effect

Answer 12

Workers in a factory increased productivity because they were being observed, not because of the changes in factory conditions

Question 13

What are the 2 types of data used in social science

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What are the 2 types of quantitative data

Answer 14

Primary
-Data collected yourself via questionnaires

Secondary
-Data collected by others in official records (census, hospital and admin records)

Question 15

When is secondary quantitative data often used

Answer 15

Social epidemiology

Disease distribution affected by social factors

Question 16

When is primary quantitative data often used

Answer 16

Biomedical indicators and diagnostic labels do not accurately capture the patient experience
-PROMS assess effects of disease and treatment on QOL

Question 17

When would you use qualitative methods

Answer 17

When you want to understand what is going on

• exploring a new area where little is known
• generating new hypotheses
• understanding patient perspectives
• understanding processes of change

Question 18

When would you not use qualitative methods

Answer 18

• When you want to answer questions on causation

- When quantification needed

Question 19

How would you go about generating qualitative data

Answer 19

Interviews with open questions
Interviews are recorded and transcribed and analysed for common themes

Allows for generation of new hypotheses which can be tested with the hypothetico-deductive method

Question 20

What kind of generalisations can you get in quantitative data

Answer 20

Empirical

-findings in sample applied to population

Question 21

What kind of generalisations can you get in qualitative data

Answer 21

Conceptual and sensitising concepts

-identify concepts that may be generalised to some people