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Social Research Methods: Understanding Theories, Approaches, and Processes, Exams of Social Work

Harvard UniversitySocial Work

This chapter provides an overview of social research methods, focusing on theories, purposes, relational statements, and research approaches. Topics include deductive and inductive methods, grounded theory, epistemological and ontological debates, positivism, critical approaches, and interpretivism. Students will gain a solid foundation in social research methods and their applications.

Typology: Exams

2023/2024

Available from 03/11/2024

CarlyBlair
CarlyBlair 🇺🇸

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Chapter 1 - Social Research methods
Theory -
Explanation of observed patterns/regularities
Purpose of Research -
DEEP
Describe
Explore
Expound
Predict
Relational Statement -
Connect 2 or more statements
- Deterministic or probabilistic
(Ex: Economy experiences downturn = arson rates rise)
Deterministic -
Two variables go always go together
(Jake wakes up, Jake takes a shower)
Probabilistic -
Two variables go together to some degree, but not inevitable
Grand Theories -
Generally Abstract
- Offer few ways to test theories simply provide a lense
pf3
pf4
pf5

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Chapter 1 - Social Research methods

Theory - Explanation of observed patterns/regularities Purpose of Research - DEEP Describe Explore Expound Predict Relational Statement - Connect 2 or more statements

  • Deterministic or probabilistic (Ex: Economy experiences downturn = arson rates rise) Deterministic - Two variables go always go together (Jake wakes up, Jake takes a shower) Probabilistic - Two variables go together to some degree, but not inevitable Grand Theories - Generally Abstract
  • Offer few ways to test theories simply provide a lense

Theories of Middle Range -

  • Like strain theory/Anomie
  • Can be tested (comparing suicide rates)
  • Enable further theorizing Deductive -
  • Most common to social research
  • Begins with theory/explanation then tests it Inductive -
  • Begins with gathering/examining data, then tries to derive a theory from the data Process of Deduction -
  1. Theory
  2. Hypotheses
  3. Data Collection
  4. Findings
  5. Hypotheses confirmed/rejected
  6. Revision of theory Grounded Theory - Deriving theories from inductive observations Epistemological -
  • Focus on what constitutes as knowledge/creation of new knowledge
  • Positivism, Interpretivism, Ontological Debates -
  • What constitutes as reality
  • Empericism: Knowledge gained based on info gathered by senses
  • Science is value-free
  • Deductive Approach _ Uncover laws governing social reality
  • CLEAR distinction between scientific and normative statements Critical Approaches - Research is not just for understanding, but changing reality. Research is not value fere and should be practice/participatory oriented Criticizes positivism (like interpretivism) but goes further
  • No value-free research (take position of active support)
  • Knowledge should not just be used to "understand" but change social reality (Marx)
  • Research should be practice-oriented
  • Participatory Action Research (PAR) Interpretivism - Relies on common sense thinking, wants to grasp the meanings of things to different people, be relativistic in nature (View action from actor) Goal is to grasp the meanings of phenomena to individuals/groups and their actions
  • Individuals interpret their own reality
  • Common-Sense thinking
  • View the action from the actors (Respondents) Symbolic Interactionism - People interact everyday by interpreting different symbolic meanings. You must understand the way people construct their reality. Take the roles of others Type of interpretivism
  • Self-understanding emerges through "taking the roles of others" (Mead)
  • People take part in interaction by interpreting the symbolic meaning of their environment
  • Should "catch" (understand) the interpretation by which actors construct their action. (Bulmer) Politics in research -
    • Researchers sometimes take sides
  • Funding (Who gets it, from who, strings attached?)
  • Research respondents (Who gets access, strings?)
  • Findings (Are they acceptable to those who funded/to publish?) Normative Statement - Question certain acts or social conditions if they are morally accpetable Scientific Statement - Describe how and why certain social phenomena occur Verstehen - Empathetic understanding Particaptory Action Research -
    • Approach to research in communities
  • Identify problems in communities and act on them Reflexivity - Researchers are aware their values & decisions impact their research