Theories and Methods Flashcards
Define empirical
Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic
Define value-free
Where a researchers personal opinions, beliefs and feelings are kept out of the research process so that data collected is not influenced by the personal biases of the researcher
Define value-laden
The researcher is weighed down by their values and cannot escape them
Define positivism
Emphasise the use of quantitative data to remain detached from the research process and to uncover social trends and correlations which are generalisable to society as a whole.
Define verteshen
A researcher aims to understand another persons experience by putting themselves in the other persons shoes
Define value-committed
Sociologists will use their positions of power and insight to give a voice to the deprived and in doing so, we can bring about social change
Define objective
Knowledge which is free of the biases, opinions and values of the researcher, it reflects what is really out there in the social world
Define subjective
Knowledge based purely on the opinions of the individual, reflecting their values and biases, their point of view
Define falsification
Researchers deliberately look for evidence to disprove their hypothesis
Define paradigm
A particular and accepted set of thoughts and assumptions about the way things are and the way research should be done
Define interpretivism
Want to know the meanings actors give to their own actions, what their own interpretation of their action is
Popper (1935)
Suggested that science involves the hypothetico-deductive method which involves drawing up a specific research question, idea or possible explanation and testing through research
Positivists on sociology being a science
Agree
Social laws governing human behaviour in social world
Sociologists should use the logic and method of the natural sciences
Popper on sociology being a science
Agree
Believes the hypothetic-deductive method is logically flawed
Says H-O model assumes there is enough evidence, it proves hypothesis correct
Kuhn (1970)
Argues normal science operates in a paradigm
Only when a whole lot of research doesn’t fit into the accepted paradigm, it is challenged and ultimately a new paradigm is instated
Keat and Urry (1982)
Stresses the similarity between sociology and certain types of science
Closed system: where variables can be controlled and precise measurement can be taken
Open system: not all variables can be controlled
Define aim
Statement that identifies what a sociologist intends to study
Define hypothesis
Statement which a researcher will address in their research
Operationalising concepts
Making the research aim and/or hypothesis testable
Quantitative data
Data in the form of numbers
Qualitative data
Data in the form of words
Primary data
Generated by the researcher
Secondary data
Data that already exists
Public documents
Those which are produced for public knowledge i.e. OFSTED reports
