[CYC 601] - Final Exam Guide - Everything you need to know! (26 pages long)

78 views26 pages

Document Summary

Theory an explanation of observed regularities or patterns: composed of interrelated and usually verifiable statements or propositions, 3 common components of a theory: Definitions specify what the key terms in the theory mean. Descriptions outline the characteristics of the phenomena of interest. Relational statements connect 2 or more variables, so that knowing the value of one variable conveys information about the other. There are few direct indications of how to collect evidence to test them. Deductive method (most common approach: researcher starts by coming up with a theory that seeks to explain a particular phenomenon, and then deduces specific hypotheses that are then tested with empirical data. Notions of what can be known and how knowledge can be acquired. An important epistemological issue in the social sciences is the question of what should be regarded as acceptable knowledge. An epistemological position that affirms the importance of following the natural sciences.