Lesson 1 - Scientific Research in the Social Sciences

Question 1

What are the 2 “drives” for research

Answer 1

• knowledge drive
• problem drive

Question 2

Give 3 reasons for research

Answer 2

• increases KNOWLEDGE about human behaviour
• helps us DESCRIBE/EXPLAIN certain phenomenon
• helps us PREDICT/UNDERSTAND the phenomenon

Question 3

Name the 5 non-scientific methods of acquiring knowledge

Answer 3

1. Method of tenacity
2. Methods of Intuition
3. Method of Authority
4. Rational Method
5. Empirical Method

Question 4

Briefly outline the Method of Tenacity and its limitations

Answer 4

• holding onto idea because they are accepted facts, believing something we have previously accepted as true

Limitation: potential inaccuracies, with no method for correcting erroneous ideas

Question 5

Briefly outline the Method of Intuition and its limitations

Answer 5

• information accepted on feeling

Limitation: no method for separating accurate from inaccurate knowledge

Question 6

Briefly outline the Method of Authority and its limitations

Answer 6

• relies on info from experts in the subject area
  *not a bad starting point, often the quickest way for find answers

Limitation: information not always accurate but not questioned - not all experts are experts

Question 7

Briefly outline the Rational method and its limitations

Answer 7

• Seeking answers by logical reasoning

Limitations: sometimes the premises of the logical reasoning is flawed. People are also bad at logical reasoning

Question 8

Briefly outline the Empirical Method and its limitations

Answer 8

• also known as empiricism; attempts to answer questions by direct observation and personal experience (philosophy that all knowledge is acquired through the senses)

Limitations: Observations can be misinterpreted (experience swayed by belief); time-consuming and sometimes dangerous

Question 9

Give 6 common errors in non-scientific methods of inquiry

Answer 9

• Inaccurate observations.
• Overgeneralisation.
• Not easy to replicate.
• Selective observation.
• Bias.
• Half-life of facts; new discoveries.

Question 10

The scientific methods is an approach to enquiring knowledge that involves….

Answer 10

….formulating specific questions and then systematically finding answers

Question 11

Outline the meaning of Ontology and Epistemology

Answer 11

Ontology - the nature of reality; what is real (is reality stable an external, subjective and internal, or socially constructed)

Epistemology - the science of knowing; systems of knowledge; how is knowledge created

*these determine the role of the researcher

Question 12

Social Sciences generally focusses on…… no individuals

Answer 12

aggregates
- explain aggregate patterns of behaviour

Question 13

What the 3 broad purposes of Social Research

Answer 13

Exploratory (conclusions generally suggestive rather than definitive)

Descriptive

Explanatory

Question 14

Outline Inductive and Deductive Theories

Answer 14

• Induction (bottom-up) – Generalize from a small set of specific examples to the complete set of all possible examples
• (e.g -I ate 3 apples, all of them were sour,
  so apples are sour fruit).
• Generally qualitative research, used to develop theories
• Deduction (top-down) – Predict a small set of specific examples from a general statement about the complete set of all possible examples
• (e.g All green apples are sour, therefore if I
  eat a green apple it will be sour)
• Generally quantitative research, used to test theories

INDUCTION:

Observations => Empirical Generalization => Theories

DEDUCTION:

Theories => Hypotheses => Observations

Question 15

Out the concepts of Paradigms and Theories

Answer 15

Paradigms - a set of beliefs, ideas and values that forms a way of thinking about the world (a frame of reference through which to observe and understand)

Theory - a systematic explanation of observations on any aspect of life

Question 16

What are two benefits of recognizing the paradigm within which we operate

Answer 16

1. We can better understand the actions of others operating in different paradigms
2. We can profit from stepping outside of our paradigm

Question 17

A paradigm encompasses your…..

Answer 17

Ontology, epistemology and methodology

Question 18

Name and briefly explain the 4 major paradigms

Answer 18

Positivism - hidden rules govern the world
Interpretive/constructionist - reality is constructed by individuals in groups
Critical - society is rife with inequalities
Pragmatic - truth is what is useful

Question 19

Explain the Ontology, Epistemology and Methodology of Positivism, Interpretivism and Constructionism

Answer 19

Positivism:
Ontology - Stable external reality; law-like
Epistemology - Objective; detached observer
Methodology - Experimental, quantitative, hypothesis testing

Interpretivist
Ontology - Internal reality of subjective experience
Epistemology - empathic, observer subjectivity
Methodology - interactional, interpretation, qualitative

Constructionist -
Ontology - Socially constructed reality, discourse power
Epistemology - Suspicious, political, observer constructing versions
Methodology - deconstruction, textual analysis, discourse analysis

Question 20

Theories seek to….

Answer 20

….offer logical explanations for observed patterns

Question 21

What are the 5 steps to the research process?

Answer 21

1.Observe behaviour or other phenomena.

2.Form a tentative answer or explanation (a
hypothesis).

3.Use your hypothesis to generate a testable prediction.

4.Evaluate the prediction by making systematic, planned observations.

5.Use the observations to support, refute or refine the original hypothesis.

Question 22

Conclusions of a research process should be….. (3 marks)

Answer 22

• Empirical
• Public
• Objective