SOC221H5- Final Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 29 pages long!)

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30 Nov 2017
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Compare it to other approaches to knowledge construction. Understand basics of ontological and epistemological foundations of scientific and sociological research. Be able to explain limits/weaknesses of scientific research. Define quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches to research. Give an example of a theory of the middle range. Define deduction and induction, and give one example of each (other than examples from the textbook). Define the three main approaches to sociological research, according to the textbook. Think of research questions that could appropriately be addressed by each of these approaches. Today"s class focuses on differences between scientific research and other ways of gaining knowledge, such as one"s primary experience, mass media reports, or reliance on tradition and authoritative sources. The lecture will argue that, although complete objectivity is not possible in any science (including natural ones), systematic collection of data and testing of theories makes science more objective than other sources of knowledge.