The Research Process Flashcards
What is empirical data?
Observable data that can be used as evidence
What is induction?
Building on observations to try to arrive at general truths
What is deduction?
Using general knowledge to try to predict specific things
Natural (VS) Social Sciences
Natural Sciences: Deduction and falsification
Social Sciences: Induction and verification
What is a grand theory?
These are more like perspectives, or high level abstractions, including a general understanding.
Theories that are general in many contexts.
Symbolic interactionism, social learning theory, social exchange theory.
What is a Middle range theory?
A theory that is limited to a specific domain, or topic, but more specific in that domain.
Customer Satisfaction (a theory that is more specific to a context)
What is a Local level theory?
A quite specific theory, limited to more specific cases
E.g. A theory of what leads to loyalty in SaaS companies
What is Epistemology?
Epistemology is the study of knowledge and how to reach it.
Knowledge = justified belief
Which are the epistemological positions in social science?
Positivism & Interpretivism
What is Positivism?
Suggests that social science should be conducted similarly to natural science
– We need to be able to confirm phenomena through our senses
– Purpose of theory is to formulate hypothesis that can be tested
– Knowledge is achieved by gathering facts that can be used to form basis for laws
– Science can be objective
– Difference between scientific statements (what is) and normative statements (what ought to be)
What is Interpretivism?
Argue that people and social lives, are very different from other phenomena in the natural world, and need to be studied differently.
– Rather than seeking an objective perspective, interpretivists look for meaning in the subjective experiences of individuals engaging in social interaction.
What is Ontology?
Ontology = how we view what reality is.
What are the the two different Ontological positions?
Objectivism & Constructionism
What are the differences between Quantitative & Qualitative Research?
Quantitative: measure things, work with numbers and statistics
– Often deductive
– Follows a natural scientific approach
– Objectivist
– Focus on testing theory
Qualitative: work with words, descriptions
– More often inductive
– More interpretative
– Social realities changing and created
– Focus on developing theory
What are the paradigms in social science?
Functionalist
Interpretative
Radical humanist
Radical structuralist
Functionalist Paradigm (objective-regulation)
This has been the primary paradigm for organizational study. It assumes rational human action and believes one can understand organizational behavior through hypothesis testing.
Interpretive Paradigm (subjective-regulation)
This paradigm “seeks to explain the stability of behavior from the individual’s viewpoint”. Researchers in this paradigm try to observe “on-going processes” to better understand individual behavior and the “spiritual nature of the world”.
Radical Humanist Paradigm (subjective-radical change)
Theorists in this paradigm are mainly concerned with releasing social constraints that limit human potential. They see the current dominant ideologies as separating people from their “true selves”. They use this paradigm to justify desire for revolutionary change. It’s largely anti-organization in scope.
Radical Structuralist Paradigm (objective-radical change)
Based on this paradigm, theorists see inherent structural conflicts within society that generate constant change through political and economic crises. This has been the fundamental paradigm of Marx, Engles, and Lenin.
What characterizes an Functionalist approach?
Most common. Problem solving orientation, leading to rational explanation.
What characterizes an Interpretative approach?
Focused on conceptions of social actors and that understanding must be based in understanding those who work in organizations.
What characterizes a Radical humanist approach?
Organizations are social arrangements, from which individuals need to be emancipated (freed),* research should be guided by the need for change.*
What characterizes a Radical structuralist approach?
Views an organization as a product of power relationships, which results in conflict.
What are the Epistemic positions?
Empiricism
Rationalism
Pragmatism
Skepticism
Epistemic positions influence how we problematize and what research question we pose!
Empirism = kunskap kommer från observation och erfarenhet av den fysiska världen. Empirister hävdar att sinnen är det primära verktyget för att få kunskap om världen och att kunskapen måste vara verifierbar genom observation eller experiment.
Rationalism = kunskap kommer från förnuft och resonemang, snarare än från observation och erfarenhet. Rationalister hävdar att det finns vissa grundläggande principer eller sanningar som kan nås genom introspektion och filosofisk reflektion.
Pragmatism = sanningen om en idé eller teori bestäms av dess praktiska användbarhet. Pragmatister anser att en idé eller teori bör bedömas utifrån dess förmåga att lösa verkliga problem och ge konkreta resultat.
Skepticism = ifrågasätter möjligheten att nå sann kunskap. Skeptiker hävdar att det är omöjligt att ha fullständig tillit till någon form av kunskap, eftersom all kunskap är begränsad av människans förmåga att observera, tolka och förstå världen. Skeptiker hävdar ofta att kunskap bara kan vara tillfällig och provisorisk.
Sammanfattningsvis:
Empirism = erfarenhet och observation
Rationalism = förnuft och resonemang
Pragmatism = praktisk användbarhet
Skepticism = ifrågasätter möjligheten till sann kunskap.
What is Empiricism?
Knowledge stems from input of our senses, empirical investigation.
What is Rationalism?
We can use reason to gain knowledge.
What is Pragmatism?
Truth as that which is practically applicable in the world.
What is Scepticism?
Questions the possibility of human knowledge, either in particular domains or on a general level.
What is Axiology?
Why do we do research? What’s the ultimate goal of doing science? The scientific method does contain goals, but researchers do!
– For the value of knowledge for its own sake
– To inform, transform or enable positive change
Different paradigms in social science in relation to quantitative and qualitative methods
Positivism – Quantitative: discovery of the laws that govern behaviors
Constructivist – Qualitative: understanding from an insider perspective of people
Critical – Postmodern: Investigate and expose power relationships
Pragmatic – Interventions, interactions and their effects in multiple contexts
