POLI 2053 Chapter : Poli Sci 2053 Comp Poli Social Sciences
Document Summary
Social sciences: how we understand how we act with other humans through many levels of analysis. Who are we addressing and the type of reaction we are getting: scientific method: its an ongoing process, make observation, think of an interesting question, formulate hypotheses, develop testable predictions, gather data to test predictions. Possibly refine, alter expand, or reject hypothesis: develop general theories. Conceptual: qualitative: concerned with understanding human behavior from the informant"s perspective. Assumes a dynamic and negotiated reality. : quantitative: concerned with discovering facts about social phenomena. The more data you gather the more accurate predictions. Methodological: qualitative: data collected through observation and interviews. Data are analyzed by themes from description by informants. Data are reported in the language of the informant using archives is important for this: quantitative: data are collected through measuring things; data are analyzed through numerical comparisons and statistical inferences. Data are reported through statistical analyses: mixed methods: use of both to gather data.
