Sociology 2206A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Teleology, Design Issues, Ecological Fallacy

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 2206A/B
• Professor: Steven J Maynard

Document Summary

Quantitative researchers rely on a positivist approach to social science, follow a linear path, speak a la(cid:374)guage of (cid:862)va(cid:396)ia(cid:271)les a(cid:374)d h(cid:455)potheses(cid:863: emphasize precisely measuring variables and testing hypotheses that are linked to general causal explanations. Begin with very general research questions + specific topic emerges slowly during study. Combining focusing on specific question w/ the process of deciding the details of study design that occurs while gathering data. Flexible + encourages slowly focusing the topic throughout the study. Only a small amount of topic narrowing occurs in an early research planning stage + most of narrowing occurs after researcher has begun to collect data. Begins gathering with a general topic + notion of what will be relevant. Focusing and refining begins after data has been gathered and started preliminary analysis. Use early data collection to guide how they adjust + sharpen the research (cid:395)uestio(cid:374)(cid:894)s(cid:895) (cid:271)/(cid:272) the(cid:455) do(cid:374)"t k(cid:374)o(cid:449) the issue u(cid:374)til the(cid:455)"(cid:396)e e(cid:373)e(cid:396)ged i(cid:374) all data.