Class notes
Summary of Sociological research
- Institution
- University Of Cape Town (UCT)
this is a summary of the various sociological research techniques
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH:Aims of lecture:
- Introduce to the basics of social research
- Differentiate between common sense and scientific research
- Differentiate between positivists and humanists/ interpretative and
conflict traditions of research
Basics of sociological investigation:
- Requirement 1: looking at the world using social perspective (seeing
general in particular, etc)
- Requirement 2: critical sociological questioning (evaluate more critically
what we read, see and hear)
Sociological research can be grouped into 3 groups:
1. Theoretical/ epistemological questions- what type of truth we are
seeking to find
2. Technical questions- what type of tools and methods are best for
research
3. Ethical/ policy questions- questions abut the objectives of the research
and its consequences for us and the world
Common Sense vs Scientific Evidence:
There are many types of truth:
1. Faith (belief)- people’s beliefs of god and the universe
2. Expert truth- go see physician when you are sick
3. Common sense (general agreement)- as community or collective we all
agree on something
4. Scientific evidence- bases knowledge on direct systematic observation.
Types of observation that we can easily verify.
- It is possible and probable that we all hold many types of truths at the
same time.
- Common sense does hold true sometimes, but scientific evidence
sometimes proves common sense wrong.
Epistemology and Ontology:
- Ontology: An area if philosophy that deals with the nature of what exists
, Two types:
1. Realist: those that see the world as being “out there” with pre-existing
categories waiting to be discovered
2. Nominalist: those that believe our experience “out there” occurs
through an internal lens of interpretations and subjectivity
Epistemology:
- A branch of philosophy that investigates the nature of knowledge and
truth
- Epistemological orientation determines what kind of truth you will end
up with
- Epistemology is routed in ontological assumptions: if you are aligned to a
realist or nominalist ontology, you will have a different type of truth.
- Eg: Realist- we can produce knowledge about society by making careful
observations. Nominalist- will not lead to knowledge because
interpretations and subjective views greatly influence all our
observations
Positivist vs Humanist vs Critical
- There are 3 dominant sociological orientations/ approaches:
1. Positivism: a logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic
observation.
2. Humanism or Interpretivism: insists that studying human world is
different from studying biological, physical and material world. Focuses
on the meanings people attach to their worlds.
- The focus is on the human and symbolic, therefore this produces a
different kind of science, called social science, it seeks to understand
meanings
- Critical approaches are more focused on outcomes and social justice
matters
- It is in direct response to positivists, critical approach rejected the
positivists claim that researchers should try be “objective”
- Critical social science necessitates that the research’s objective engages
with the struggle for equity and justice for the marginalised
Positivist vs Humanist approaches:
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller rachel64. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R80,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53022 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now