Week 2A (Quiz study) Flashcards
The Research Process
2 main Characteristics of the scientific method are
- Logic
2. Testing (observation)
3 main Activities of science
- Theory
- Data collection
- Data analysis
How do the 2 main Characteristics (c) of science relate to the 3 Activities (a) of science
- Theory (a) = Logic (c)
- Data collection (a) = Observation (c)
- Data analysis (a) = Logic and Observation (c)
Data analysis: compares what should make sense (logic/theory) with what is actually observed (observational/data collection)
3 functions of scientific theory in the social science
- Description (What something is)
- Explanation (Why something is the way it is)
- Exploration
Social science theory is NOT
A philosophy or belief, it does not make value/moral/ethical judgements i.e.
- Belief: Men and women ‘should’ (value/moral/ethic) be equally respected
- Scientific theory:
Men and women are not equally respected (DESCRIPTION)
because the stereo-type gender-specialised tasks associated with men and women are not equally respected (EXPLANATION)
Science can also be described at a general level as
Logico-empirical
(Refers to 2 key pillars/characteristics)
- Logico = Theory (thinking/idea)
- Empirical (Observation) =
(1) Describe and (2) Explanation probable patterns
- General patterns or statistics
- Exceptions to the rule does not mean that the ‘rule’ (or general pattern does not exist or is not important
- Personal choice to change one’s mind (free will to behave inconsistently) also doe not mean that a pattern does not occur
- Both formal and informal rules (or social norms) make social life relatively regular/patterned/probable/likely
(3) Exploring the ‘obvious’
- Of course a doctor earns more money than a plumber!… or do they?
- Being ‘critical’ is about taking a closer look… (A medical intern may earn more than a plumber working 30 years)
- Some research may be criticised with the charge of triviality… (That something is too trivial or obvious to test)
- But… in exploring ‘the obvious’ we can still learn something new.
Isaac Newton: I stand on the shoulders of giants statement refers to
That knowledge builds, there are stepping stones
Scientific theory in the social science is concerned with
Groups of people or the system in which people operate in
What are 4 theoretical approaches to scientific inquiry
- Idiographic and Nomothetic reasoning
- Inductive and Deductive reasoning
- Qualitative and Quantitative research
- Pure and applied research
- Idiographic and Nomothetic reasoning seeks to explain
- Idiographic explanations: To fully explain one particular scenario (specific)
- Nomothetic explanation: To partially explain many similar scenarios (general)
- Inductive and Deductive reasoning seeks to explain
- Inductive reasoning: Start from a specific situation and then make an inference about a general pattern.
- Deductive reasoning: Starts at a general pattern and then make an inference about a specific situation.
- Qualitative and Quantitative data is
Quantitive research:
- Non-numerical and consists of words (i.e. Angela is bright)
Quantitative research:
- Numerical (Angela’s IQ =120)
Advantages of Quantitative and Quantitate data
Quantitive: Captures the meaning behind the numbers
Qualitative: Can aggregate, compare and summarise data
Disadvantages of Quantitative and Qualitative data
Quantitative: The meaning may be ambiguous so we can’t compare people (language is also socially constructed)
Qualitative: There is a potential loss of richness in meaning
Pure and Applied research are conducted
Pure:
- Understanding
- Knowledge for the sake of knowledge
Applied:
- Application
- Make society more humane
- Use the results of the study to make changes or improve well being.
Logic is used to design and develop scientific theory
- That observations are made when collecting data
- That data analysis compare actually observed or collected with what would logically be expected (as outlined in theory)
Scientific theory in the social sciences focuses not on individuals (in the way psychology does)
- But on groups of people and as a result is concerned with the system that influences groups of people
Even though there is less regularity in social life than in physical life,, there are
Still patterns (but formally prescribed and less informal normative) that can. be investigated in the social sciences.
Logic is used to design and develop scientific theory
- That observations are made when collecting data
- That analysis compares actually observed or collected, with what would logically be expected (as outlined in theory)
2 parts of basic argument
- One or more premise
2. A conclusion
Argument
Made to address a specific problem, by offering a position and providing a reason for hat position.
Deductive argument
If facts are true, then the conclusions must be true
(i.e. arguments in which the conclusion necessarily follow the premises, if the premise are true then the conclusion is true)
Inductive argument
Conclusion is supported (but not proven), to be greater or lesser degree, by the premises.
(i.e. the conclusion does not logically follow from the premise/fact.)
When making a deductive argument
- Start by examining/uncovering the premises, reasons and evidence. What logical conclusions can you draw from the evidence
- Avoid jumping to a conclusion of someone else’s argument (agree or not)
OR
Picking out your conclusion ahead of time and then trying to justify it
Evaluating a deductive argument
- Are the premises true? (condition or state of things)
- Is the form of argument valid? (Premise/fact being true then conclusion MUST be true)
If yes, then you have a sound argument
Evaluating an inductive argument
- Evaluation process is different to deductive argument
- Are the premises true or acceptable?
- Are the premises relevant to the issue at hand?
- Are the premises compelling/sufficient enough to justify the conclusion?
Evaluation Measure Argument:
- Weak
- Fair, relevant and insufficient or counter-argument
- Strong, relevant and sufficient
If yes, then you have a sound argument
