LABRST 3H03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Common Sense Media, Antipositivism, Nomothetic
3 Oct 2020
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Large n vs. small n (n means number) Sample sizes in quantitative is large, tends to be broad because large sizes. Qualitative has smaller number of observations (1-2 cases at most), tends to be deep because small sizes. Consulting authority as a way of knowing - google being the ultimate way of knowing. Normative political analysis (addresses what should be or what ought to be) vs. Empirical political analysis (addresses events or phenomenon in real world. Believe reality is fixed, so we can measure it. Observe, then explain, then make predictions about social phenomenon. Looking at past voting behaviour, modelling social behaviour and making general assumptions of a social phenomenon/ future results. Developed with renaissance as a response to power of religion. Believed they could find truth through observation. Take scientific method, and apply it to social science. Have to interpret human interactions to predict social behaviours. So it is more difficult to be measured.
