SOCA02H3 : chp2.docx
Document Summary
Experience helps determine how we perceive reality, including what patterns we see and whether we are able to see patterns at all. Experience filters perceptions -> the single biggest problems for sociological research. Filtering occurs in 4 stages: our values often help us decide which problems are worth investigating. Values -> theories -> previous research -> methods reality . Values, theories, previous research and research methods filter our perceptions we can never perceive society in a pure or objective form. Researchers generally tend to be objective in order to perceive reality as clearly as possible. The research cycle (6 steps): the sociologist must formulate a questions, review the existing research literature, select a research method, collect data, analyze the data, report results. Field research is research based on the observation of people in their natural settings. Detached observation: an approach that involves clarifying and counting the behaviour of interest according to a predetermined scheme.
