theoretical isssues Flashcards
what is positivism?
-take a scientific approach to research
-They are interested in what might cause something to occur and the social effect this has
-use quantitative data;enables them to look for patterns or trends and make comparrisons
What are some features of positivism?
objectivity:free of bias from researchers
cause and effect:where one variable may lead to another
value-free research:not influenced by the values of the researcher
Social facts: a concept originally used by durkheim describes the institutions, values and beliefs of society that can be measured objectively
replicability/reliability:research can be repeated
positivism in a nutshell
-scientific
-measurable
-comparative
-controlled environment
-large scale
-replicable
What is interpretavism?
-look for meanings and motives attached to peoples actions
-they want to ‘be able to walk into the shoes of those being researched’
key words for interpretavism?
-Hawthorne effect: occurs when those being studied change their behaviour as a result of being studied
Meanings & Motives:The interpretations people give to their actions
qualitative data:data in words
Rapport:relationship between the reserarcher and the participants
validity: a true picture of the social reality of those being studied
interpretavism in a nutshell
-descriptive and detailed (qualitative)
-case studies
-research people in their natural environment
-small scale but in depth
What is realism?
-a halfway approach between positivism and interpretavism
-realists want to know what causes social processes and events
-they both measure observable social facts and look for why these results have been found
What do realists aim to do?
-find the cause and the underlying reasons for issues e.g underachievement, poverty
-examine the cause of behaviour beyond the will of the individual
-they want to understand the views of the individuals involved in social processes and events
-suggest that just cause males and females don’t overty engage in measurable conflict doesn’t mean sexism doesn’t exist
-want to be objective as possible but recognise that it is difficult to be value-free
how do realists conduct their research?
-examine the social world in all dimensions
-considers the underlying ideologies, and social structures that underpin social events and actions
-use a range of methods and break down the division between quantitative and qualitative data
-taking research in 2-stages
-developing layers or peeling off layers
