Sociology 2206A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Problem Solving, Social Theory, Antipositivism
19 Feb 2020
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Why do we do social research: curiosity, prediction, problem solving, policy making. Investigate interactions: observations (observe people, analysis them, date collection. Scientific method: a systematic, organized series steps that get max objectivity and consistency in researching a problem. What is objectivity: we want to be bias free but we cant. If something keeps happening we don"t want to ignore it. We can not be bias free in research. Theory --> hypotheses --> observation --> empirical generalization --> Interrelated statements intended to explain aspects of social life: explain recurring patterns, explain aggregates, not individuals. State a probability, chance or tendency , not an absolute causal relationship. Casual explanation: direction of influence (time order) X (cause) --> y (outcome effect: statistical association, elimination of alternative explanations. Levels of social theories: macro society, social structures, meso social organizations & social institutions (family, work, mirco individual & interpersonal, multi combination. Hypothesis: generated by expectations of a theory.
