SOAN 3070- Final Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 36 pages long!)

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 3070
• Professor: Anna Borisenkova

Document Summary

Imprecise subject matter vs. imprecise study of subjects. Qualitative researchers need to be very precise in their research; more than all other scientists. Tension between quantitative and qualitative research has existed since the beginning of sociology. Ogburn did not believe the future of sociology existed in books and statistical data that could not be quantified. He argued sociology needed to become a real science. Wanted sociology to be more like natural sciences such as physics, chem, and bio. Park wanted to relate sociology to the lives of people. Thought the most important thing was to find what was going on in each neighbourhood within the city and observe every interaction. A true sociologist should always be in contact with the object of study. Qualitative research assumes the answer to any question lies within human nature. 10 unique attributes of quantitative methodology: absence of absolute truth, often based on interpretations, and statistical data is not involved.