SOC222H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Social Capital, Gini Coefficient, Homicide
Document Summary
Modern science is about specific ways of finding things out and such things have to exist in the observable world. However the phenomenon doesn"t have to be directly observable; for example, gravity, trust, inequality. A concept is a term we use to apply things that share characteristics. They"re different from empirical facts/ evidence since it doesn"t need facts or empirical evidence. We take concepts and turn them into construct to make them more amenable to measurement and observation. A construct is things we know exists empirically but cannot be directly observed; for example, power. Power: the ability to produce intended effects; power exists by looking at its intended effects but it cannot be seen physically. Above all else, variables must vary (vary-ables). They are characteristics that we measure that we assume would change based on a specific circumstance or condition. We expect variables to change and have range and variance.
