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Introduction to scocial science research lectures and book summary
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Introduction to social science researchLiterature: chapter 1/ 2 (p 54-58)
Lecture 1 + book summary
What is research
Knowledge is about what we know vs how we know (where it came from, what source)
When we understand through direct experience, we make observations and seek patterns or
regularities in what we observe.
We sometimes jump to general conclusions based on only a few observations, so scientists
seek to avoid overgeneralization by committing to enough observations and by replicating
studies.
Two important sources of agreed-on knowledge are tradition and authority. However, these
useful sources of knowledge can also lead us astray. Whereas we often observe inaccurately
in day-to-day inquiry, researchers seek to avoid such errors by making observation a careful
and deliberate activity.
Academia: what we know = theory. Much of what we know, we know by agreement rather
than by experience. Scientists accept an agreement reality but have special standards for
doing so.
Do the observations (theory) match the experience in reality Methods to do so are
methology
Different traditions about knowledge
- Physics (gravity) finding the laws of nature
- Literary studies finding the meaning of different texts
- Social science finding the laws of social reality. How people experience this.
Physiological (filosofisch) thinking: a lot of thinking about the theory but not methology.
Basing our knowledge on (objective) observations
Determinism vs agency (free will)
People will often think they have free agency or will for themselves but are often influenced
by their environment and/ or upbringing. This is a social dilemma that a lot of researchers
deal with.
Example:
‘ I could never date someone who smokes’, ‘I couldn’t work at a job that works with nuclear
weapons’. Are they making this decision themselves or doing it for others?
In terms of human agency, you could do any of these things, although you might choose not
to. However, you rarely explain your behavior or feeling on the basis of choice. If your
classmates suggest you join them at a party or the movies and you reply, “I can’t. I have an
,exam tomorrow,” in fact, you could blow off the exam and join them; but you choose not to.
(Right?) However, you rarely take responsibility for such a decision. You blame it on external
forces: Why did the professor have to give an exam the day after the big party?
Foundations of social science
Scientific understanding of the world must:
- Make sense. Doesn’t depend on ideology or religion, etc. logical thinking, and existing
knowledge. Seeing what other people discovered. Sometimes the observations we
have don’t correspond with what other people found. Then we have to find out why.
example given
Social theory attempts to discuss and explain what is, not what should be. Theory should not
be confused with philosophy
or belief.
- Correspond with what we observe. Part of research is writing down what we did. If
you only write down little parts of the observation you and other people don’t know
what you did. Detailed writing is important
social science looks for regularities in social life. Social scientists are interested in explaining
human aggregates, not individuals.
Theories are written in the language of variables.
A variable is a logical set of attributes an attribute is a characteristic, such as male or
female. Sex, for example, is a variable made up of these attributes. So is gender, when those
attributes refer to social rather than biological distinctions.
How to observe scientifically
Be:
- Objective: (Gaming example. A lot of people are bias about playing games or don’t/
do have children. It shouldn’t depend on whether you like playing or not)
- Precise: observing means you are focused and paying attention to details. Doing
research, you have to focus in a different and more precise way. (Gaming:
observation must be precise enough to know if he is addicted. How many hours does
someone have to play, etc.)
- Systematic: write down the steps. Other people must follow your steps. They should
be able to follow the steps and have the exact same outcome. (Gaming: using the
same procedure for all the games
- Reflective: also reflect on the research and observations. Did I learn something,
would I do something different. Be critical on yourself.
Subject of research
What do we want to know?
- Interesting parts of reality relevance. Difference between social and scientific
relevance. Example of black holes. It is super scientific relevant, socially not as much.
We focus on the social relevance. The development of radio is not as relevant
anymore
, What can we research to understand the world, make a difference in today’s
communication, influences the world.
- Usually not the unique but the patterns.
- What we do not research.
Philosophical issues (meaning of life)
Esthetical issues (best film director ever, its taste)
Moral issues (best way to live in society. We can’t say what is right and wrong.)
Ethics are important in researching. We have to take in account what the effect is etc
What is an example of the importance of ethics is social research?
How do we start
1. Concepts and relations
we start with a theoretical question
Het begin. Dit is om te orienteren op de vraag. Het moet gebaseerd zijn op literatuur wat
al bestaat.
- Theoretical concept is a social phenomenon that is considered relevant to study.
Abstract phenomenon that we all have a feeling what it is but its still abstract.
Popper: we cant verify a theory. We can’t know the theory is right. We only prove it is NOT
wrong. We assume it is not wrong. (social sciences)
Example: globalization is a concept. Not concrete, still abstract.
- Translating topic into concept is called conceptualization
Theory is a coherent explanation of one or more concepts and their relations. Systematic
explanation of the observations that relate to a particular aspect of life, juvenile
delinquency, etc. Babbi 12.
There can be a contradiction between theory and observations.
We want to know about larger instances of society. Through systematic research. Theory
does not always come first. Sometimes you make observations first.
What does observations mean? Is it the research for the theory? Does it include qualitative
and quantative methods or is it something different?
When do we need a theory?
Sometimes we need to know more about a subject other than just observations. To start the
research or to know more details.
Example: internet usage (digital divide)
- Relevance? capacities digital skills
- Compare? your grandmother vs you?
, 2. Preparation of ingredients
From abstract to concrete
You must make discissions and selections on what you want to study further. That’s ok, if
you can explain why you made the discissions.
Video:
Concepts: Wealth, observation: income. Health, observation: life expectancy
Observation means how its measured. What data did they look up.
Choose a method:
- Experiment (to test skills internet example)
- Survey (to ask people the same questions)
- Online ethnography
- Content analysis
3. Procedure
General principles you’ve done a lot of research and found an explanation of how things
work. You have a theory and test it in the field. Your research is aimed to
Deductive: you already have a theory and observations (previous literature). You have a
clear direction to go to. Its up to you to collect the observations and match it to your
research. Quantitative methods with numbers. Looking for big patterns.
Specific (theory) to general (observations). Building on what we already know
Inductive: more qualitative methods with words. Sometimes we don’t have a lot of theory.
You cant find the general principles. Then you can start with interviews and observations.
Based on these observations you try to formulate theory. That’s inductive research. Getting
in to details of smaller groups you’ve studied. Not generalized.
General (observations) to specific (theory). If there is hardly any theory
Example:
Model: simplified depiction of reality: two concepts and relation
Media usage. perception of danger
More of …. Leads to … more of this
This is theory!!
Amount of hours playing video games p/w amount of times a person feels
unsafe
Theory test it deductive.
OR other explanations of perception of danger? If we don’t know we might do open
interviews and wait what game players tell us (inductive)
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