1. It provides a backcloth and justification for the research that is being conducted 2. It provides a framework within which social phenomena can be understood and the research findings can be interpreted
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What are some examples of theories?
Structural-functionalism, symbolic interactionism, critical theory, post-structuralism, structuration theory etc
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What is empiricism?
Empiricism is used to denote a general approach to the study of reality that suggests that only knowledge gained through experience and the senses is acceptable
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What is a deductive approach?
A strategy that is concerned with developing a hypothesis based on existing theory
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What is an inductive approach?
A strategy that is concerned with the generation of new theory emerging from data
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What is the process of deduction?
1. Theory 2. Hypothesis 3. Observation 4. Confirmation/rejection
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What is the process of induction?
1. Observation 2. Pattern 3. Tentative hypothesis 4. Theory
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What is positivism?
The view that social phenomena should be studied using only the methods of the natural sciences
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What is interpretivism?
A term that opposes positivism and holds the view that the subject matter of the social sciences is fundamentally different from that of the natural sciences
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What is objectivism?
Objectivism implies that social phenomena confront us as external facts that are beyond our reach or influence
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What is constructionism?
Constructionism opposes objectivism and asserts that social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors
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What is quantitative research?
The systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques
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What is qualitative research?
A scientific method of observation to gather non-numerical data that specifically focusses on the 'human' elements of the social and natural sciences
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Why is theory important?
Back
1. It provides a backcloth and justification for the research that is being conducted 2. It provides a framework within which social phenomena can be understood and the research findings can be interpreted
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