Week 1 Flashcards
Research gives us
Thoughts/opinions Cultutudes Attitudes Norns Habits Scientific facts Medical information
What do w/ research
Have it as an interesting fact Use it to make decisions Use it to affect change Use it to persuade influence others Use to change behaviour Use to change better use
Define research
a systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions
How do we use research
used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, supporttheorems, or develop newtheories
Define theory
An explanation of observed regularities or patterns
What are the components of a theory
Definitions
Descriptions
Relational statements
What are the theories of the middle range?
Limited on scop and can be tested directly w/ empirical research
What are grand theories
General/abstract and can’t be tested directly
Define definitions
key terms in a theory
Define descriptions
outline the characteristics of the phenomena of interest
Define relational statements
connects 2 or more variables
Describe the deductive method
one begins with a theory or explanation for something, then goes out into the world and tests it
What are the steps on the deductive method
Theory* Hypotheses** Data collection*** Findings**** Hypothesis confirmed or rejected Revision of theory
Describe the inductive method
begins by gathering or examining data and then tries to derive a theory or explanation from the data
What are the steps on the inductive method
Observation/findings
Theory
What does deductive theory mean with the theoretical approach
Seek to use existing theory to shape the approach which you adopt to the qualitative research process and to aspects of data analysis
What procedures are associated with the deductive theory
Pattern matching
Explanation Building
What does inductive theory mean with the theoretical approach
Seek to build up a theory which is adequately grounded in a number of relevant cases
Referred to as the grounded theory
What procedures are associated with the inductive theory
Feild texts
Research text
Working interpretative documents
Public texts
Define Positivism Paradigm
Assumes that facts are facts and can be confirmed by the senses (empiricism) – sight, hearing, etc. Ideas must be tested
The purpose of the research is to generate a hypothesis that can be tested
Positivists take a deductive approach to acquiring knowledge.
Positivism relies on scientific statements, not normative statements.
Define Interpretive Paradigm
Assumes that people create their own meanings in interaction with the world.
The goal of social science should not be to uncover social laws but to grasp the subjective meanings of people’s actions.
Attempts to understand phenomena by accessing the meaning and value that study participants assigned to them
Sociological knowledge of the social world – intersubjective not objective (value – free)
Define objectivist
Social phenomena have a reality independent of our perceptions
Creates bias in research towards formal properties of social groups/interactions
Social reality is fixed
