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Research Methods: Types Of Sociologists Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the main focus of positivism in sociology?

A

Positivism focuses on observable social facts and aims to establish general laws through scientific methods.

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2
Q

True or False: Interpretivists believe that social reality is objective and can be measured.

A

False

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3
Q

Fill in the blank: Positivists use __________ methods to gather data.

A

quantitative

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4
Q

What type of data do interpretivists prefer to use?

A

Qualitative data

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5
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a key characteristic of positivism? A) Subjectivity B) Objectivity C) Individual interpretation

A

B) Objectivity

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6
Q

What do interpretivists emphasize in their research?

A

The understanding of social meanings and the subjective experiences of individuals.

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7
Q

True or False: Positivists reject the use of statistics in their research.

A

False

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8
Q

What is a common method used by positivists?

A

Surveys and experiments

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9
Q

Fill in the blank: Interpretivists often use __________ to gain insights into social phenomena.

A

interviews

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10
Q

Multiple Choice: Which approach is likely to involve a case study? A) Positivism B) Interpretivism

A

B) Interpretivism

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11
Q

What is one limitation of positivist research?

A

It may overlook the subjective meanings and experiences of individuals.

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12
Q

True or False: Interpretivists believe that social research should be value-free.

A

False

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13
Q

What do positivists aim to achieve through their research?

A

Generalizable findings and laws about social behavior.

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14
Q

Fill in the blank: Positivism is closely associated with __________ science.

A

natural

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15
Q

What is the interpretivist view on the nature of social reality?

A

Social reality is constructed through interactions and is subjective.

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16
Q

Multiple Choice: Which perspective is more likely to use ethnographic studies? A) Positivism B) Interpretivism

A

B) Interpretivism

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17
Q

True or False: Positivists believe in the importance of context in understanding social behavior.

A

False

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18
Q

What role does empathy play in interpretivist research?

A

Empathy is crucial for understanding participants’ perspectives and meanings.

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19
Q

Fill in the blank: __________ methods are often criticized by positivists for lacking scientific rigor.

A

Qualitative

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20
Q

What is one advantage of positivist research?

A

It allows for the collection of large amounts of data that can be statistically analyzed.

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21
Q

True or False: Both positivists and interpretivists seek to understand social phenomena.

A

True

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22
Q

What do interpretivists believe is necessary for understanding human behavior?

A

Understanding the meanings and interpretations that individuals assign to their actions.

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23
Q

Multiple Choice: Which type of validity is more emphasized by interpretivists? A) Internal validity B) External validity

A

A) Internal validity

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24
Q

Fill in the blank: The positivist approach is often associated with __________ theory.

A

functionalism

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25
What is the primary criticism of positivism from interpretivists?
It oversimplifies complex social phenomena by ignoring individual meanings.
26
True or False: Interpretivists often use hypothesis testing in their research.
False
27
28
What do positivists primarily focus on in research?
Objective measurement and observable phenomena.
29
True or False: Positivists prioritize qualitative data over quantitative data.
False.
30
Fill in the blank: Positivists aim for high __________ in their research findings to ensure they can be generalized.
reliability.
31
Which approach do positivists typically adopt: micro or macro?
Macro approach.
32
What type of research methods do positivists often employ?
Quantitative research methods.
33
Multiple Choice: What is a key characteristic of positivist research? A) Subjectivity B) Generalizability C) Personal bias D) Narrative analysis
B) Generalizability.
34
True or False: Positivists believe that social phenomena can be studied using the same methods as natural sciences.
True.
35
What is the primary goal of using quantitative data in positivist research?
To establish patterns and predict future outcomes.
36
Fill in the blank: Positivists often use __________ to analyze statistical data.
mathematical models.
37
Short Answer: How do positivists view the role of the researcher in the study?
As an objective observer.
38
What is meant by 'generalizability' in positivist research?
The ability to apply findings from a sample to a larger population.
39
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a focus of positivism? A) Objectivity B) Subjectivity C) Empirical evidence D) Quantitative analysis
B) Subjectivity.
40
True or False: Positivists reject the use of statistics in their research.
False.
41
Fill in the blank: Positivists often utilize __________ to ensure the reliability of their research instruments.
standardized tests.
42
What type of data is most commonly used by positivists?
Numerical data.
43
Short Answer: What is the significance of a macro approach in positivist research?
It allows for the examination of large-scale social processes.
44
Which of the following best describes the positivist view on theories?
Theories should be tested and verified through empirical research.
45
Multiple Choice: Positivists believe that knowledge should be derived from: A) Personal experience B) Empirical observation C) Philosophical reasoning D) Intuition
B) Empirical observation.
46
True or False: Positivists support the idea that research can be influenced by the researcher’s values.
False.
47
Fill in the blank: The __________ approach of positivism emphasizes statistical analysis and data collection.
quantitative.
48
What is the role of hypotheses in positivist research?
To be tested and either supported or refuted by data.
49
Multiple Choice: Which type of research design is commonly used in positivist studies? A) Case studies B) Ethnography C) Experiments D) Narrative inquiry
C) Experiments.
50
Short Answer: Why is reliability critical in positivist research?
It ensures that results can be replicated and trusted.
51
What is a common criticism of positivism?
It may overlook the subjective aspects of human experience.
52
Fill in the blank: Positivists often rely on __________ to gather data from large populations.
surveys.
53
True or False: Positivists believe that social phenomena are unpredictable.
False.
54
What is the importance of operational definitions in positivist research?
They clarify how variables are measured and defined.
55
56
What is the primary focus of interpretivists in social research?
Understanding the subjective meanings that individuals attach to their actions.
57
True or False: Interpretivists primarily utilize quantitative data in their research.
False
58
What term do interpretivists use to describe the process of understanding social phenomena from the perspective of those involved?
Verstehen
59
Fill in the blank: Interpretivists adopt a __________ approach, focusing on individual experiences and social contexts.
micro
60
What type of data do interpretivists predominantly rely on?
Qualitative data
61
Which of the following is a common method used by interpretivists? (A) Surveys (B) Interviews (C) Experiments
B) Interviews
62
How do interpretivists view bias in research?
They acknowledge that bias can influence the interpretation of qualitative data.
63
True or False: Interpretivism emphasizes generalization of findings across populations.
False
64
What is one key characteristic of qualitative data in interpretivist research?
It provides depth and context to understanding social phenomena.
65
Which approach contrasts with the interpretivist micro approach?
Macro approach
66
What do interpretivists aim to achieve through their research?
A deep understanding of social realities and meanings.
67
Fill in the blank: Interpretivists often analyze __________ to gain insights into social interactions.
texts, interviews, and observations
68
Which of the following best describes the interpretivist stance on objectivity? (A) It is achievable (B) It is impossible (C) It is not important
B) It is impossible
69
In interpretivism, what role does the researcher play?
The researcher is an active participant in the interpretation of data.
70
What is the significance of context in interpretivist research?
Context shapes the meanings and experiences of individuals.
71
True or False: Interpretivists typically seek to test hypotheses.
False
72
What is a common critique of interpretivist research?
It can be seen as subjective and lacking in generalizability.
73
How do interpretivists approach the concept of truth?
They see truth as subjective and constructed through social interactions.
74
What is the relationship between interpretivism and constructivism?
Both emphasize the socially constructed nature of reality.
75
Fill in the blank: Interpretivist research often involves __________ analysis of narratives and stories.
thematic
76
Which of the following is NOT a method commonly used by interpretivists? (A) Ethnography (B) Case studies (C) Statistical analysis
C) Statistical analysis
77
True or False: Interpretivists disregard the importance of the researcher's perspective.
False
78
What do interpretivists believe about the nature of social phenomena?
They believe social phenomena are complex and cannot be fully understood through numbers alone.
79
What is the goal of using qualitative data in interpretivism?
To capture the richness and complexity of human experiences.
80
Fill in the blank: Interpretivists often focus on __________ relationships to understand individual behavior.
social

Sociology (2 decks)

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