1. Approaches to social research Flashcards
Define social issue
any problem that has negative consequences for society as a whole e.g unemployment, gangs
What did Durkheim say shapes human behaviour?
Humans are subject to external social forces that shape their behaviour
What are Durkehims social forces known as?
Social facts - you can’t escape or deny them e.g gender, race, law, workplace
Define Positivist research approach?
The first sociologists (e.g Durkheim) They thought they could apply scientific research to society
Define Large scale (Macro approach)
Positivist research draws from a large number of people looking at outside effects
Define quantitative data
Based on numerical data: statistics and graphs are used to gather and show results
Define objective
Positivist researchers take a neutral unbiased position that is value free
Define systematic
Positivists follow a logical step by step process in their research design
Define reliable
Positivists conduct studies that can be replicated usually with the same results
Define representative
The large scale nature means participants characterise the rest of the population
Define generalisable
Results can be assumed to be true for most people
What are all humans exposed to?
All humans exposed to social facts
Why do humans have morals?
Humans have morals because society forces it on us through socialisation - moulded by society into predictable people
What does systematic research uncover?
Uncovers the laws that govern human behaviours
Which sociological perspectives take a positivist approach?
Functionalists, Marxists and feminists
