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Chapter Outline

„ Some social science „ Macrotheory and microtheory Chapter 2-3 „ Early „ Conflict „ Symbolic Paradigms, Theory, „ Paradigms, Theory, „ „ „ Feminist paradigms „ Two logical systems revisited Research, and Ethnics of „ Deduction and deductive theory construction „ Induction and inductive theory construction „ The link between theory and research – the wheel of sciences „ The importance of theory in the real world „ Ethnical issues in social research „ Voluntary participation „ No harm to participants „ Anonymity and confidentiality „ Deception „ Analysis and reporting „ Institutional Review Board (IRB) „ Professional code of ethnics

What are the functions of theory? What is a paradigm?

„ Definition of Theory: A theory is a systematic „ A paradigm is a fundamental model or scheme of interrelated statements intended to that organizes our view of something.

explain some aspect of social life. „ Social sciences use a variety of paradigms to „ Functions of theory: organize how they understand and inquire into

„ Prevents "flukes”. social life.

„ Make sense of observed patterns in ways that suggest other possibilities.

„ Shapes and directs research efforts.

What is the difference between What are the major social science macrotheory and microtheory? paradigms?

„ Positivism - assumes we can scientifically discover the rules „ Macrotheory: Theories that focuses on society governing social life. at large or at least on large portions of it. „ : societies can be studied and understood logically and rationally. „ Examples: government fiscal policy, international „ Conflict - focuses on attempts of a person or group to trade dominate and avoid dominated. „ : class struggle „ Microtheory: Theories that deals with society „ - examines development of shared at the level of and small groups meanings and social patterns in the course of social „ Examples: and divorce behavior, interactions. „ : most interactions revolve around the process of consumer decision-making individuals reaching a common understanding through language and other symbolic systems.

1 What are the major social science What are the two logical systems? paradigms (continued)?

„ Ethnomethodology - focuses on how people make sense of „ Deduction: from general life while they are living it. „ One method commonly used is to break the rules to see how people and theories to specific cases. react to that, such as facing the rear of the elevator instead of facing the front. „ Induction : Proceed from particular cases to „ Structural functionalism - focuses on the functions the general theories. elements of society perform for the whole system of society. „ Example: The function of the police in the larger society „ Feminist paradigms - examines how previous images of social have often come from and reinforced the experiences of men. „ Example: occupations traditionally dominated by men vs. those by women, and how such occupations offer different wage rates.

An example showing deductive An example showing inductive methods methods

Grades (a) Theory and Grades (b) Grades (a) Observations Grades (b) Finding a pattern Hypothesis

Hours Studying Hours Studying Hours Studying Hours Studying (c) Accept or reject hypothesis (c) Tentative conclusion Grades Grades

Hours Studying Hours Studying

What are the steps of deductive What are the steps of inductive research (hypothesis testing)? research (grounded theory)?

„ Literature review of relevant theories and past findings „ Literature review of whatever has been done in „ Theory and hypothesis the topic area „ Develop theoretical for your study „ Develop hypotheses based on your theoretical arguments Develop hypotheses based on your theoretical arguments „ „ „ „ Measurement of variables Sample, data collection „ Issues related: conceptualization, operationalization, measurement „ Data analysis „ Observation „ Actual collection of data to test the hypotheses „ The main purpose of data analysis here is to find „ Issues related: sampling, mode of observation patterns in behavior/ „ Data analysis „ Pattern finding and theory construction „ Statistical methods - accept or reject the hypotheses

2 What are the ethical issues in social What is the wheel of science? research?

„ Voluntary participation - no one should be forced to „ The wheel of science refers to the interaction Voluntary participation - no one should be forced to participate. between induction and deduction. „ This norm can conflict with the scientific need for generalizability „ No harm to participants „ Unless well-informed give . For example, some pioneering medical treatments Theories „ Anonymity and confidentiality INDUCTION DEDUCTION „ Anonymity: even researchers cannot identify subjects „ Confidentiality: researchers promise to keep about the subjects private by, probably, destroying the records containing such Empirical Hypotheses subjects private by, probably, destroying the records containing such Generalizations information. „ Deception of the subjects „ Deception in research requires very strong justifications. Unless Observations absolutely necessary, deception should not be allowed

What are the ethical issues in social Additional things to do research (continued)?

„ Analysis and reporting „ Read two research articles: (1) Diekmann et al. „ Researchers have the to be truthful in their (1996) and (2) Salari et al (2001). Please note again analysis and should report the results fully and accurately. that you are not expected to understand in „ Institutional Review Boards (IRB) these two articles. However, please pay attention to „ Reviews all research proposals to guarantee subjects these two articles. However, please pay attention to and interests are protected. the issue of inductive vs. deductive research, the use „ Visit U. of U. IRB: http://www.utah.edu/irb/ of theories, and ethical issues. „ Professional codes of „ Note all the articles in the packet mainly use „ Professional associations in several disciplines publish codes of ethics to guide researchers. deductive methods. I am still looking for an article „ View American Psychological Association 2002 code of using inductive methods that is of reasonable length. conduct at http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html If you have a suggestion, please let me know.

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