SOC221H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Nomothetic, Focus Group, Construct Validity
Document Summary
An explanation of observed regularities or patterns. Explain why thing appear as they do. Deductive (scientific), begin with a theory then collect data to rest the theory. Inductive, begin by collecting data then build theory from data. Quantitative work tends to use deductive methods and a positivist approach. Qualitative work tends to use inductive methods and interpretivist or critical approach to science. Research design: a framework for the collection and analysis of data, research ethic must be considered when choosing a design. It is general direction of research as a whole. It must meet certain criteria in order to produce useful results. The type of research design chosen depends on the kind of explanation sought: nomothetic explanation (usually from quantitative research) involve attributions of cause and effect, expressed in term of general laws and principle. They may be developed through particular search subject and extrapolated to larger population outside the study.
