SSH 301 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: Herbert Blumer, Symbolic Interactionism, Operationalization

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Social Sciences and Humanities
• Course: SSH 301
• Professor: Sal Guzzo

Document Summary

Through life experiences and teachings not all experiences are the same- what do we observe, how do we measure things, how is reliable knowledge distinguished from things we are less sure of. Quality refers to the what how when where why of a thing its essence and ambience- qualitative research refers to meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols and descriptions of things we need this to understand our lives. We can study qualities of collections- strategies provide perspectives that can prompt recall of these common or half-forgotten sights, sounds and smells-asses these the quality of things using words images and descriptions. Quantitative research relies on computers, more scientific, needs to be done precisely, careful with definitions and procedures. All qualities can be quantified up to a certain point, just as all quantities have qualative aspects ex. Social norms, they are not written down but they are visible to members if a culture and say a lot about certain cultures ex.