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Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Lecture 2

PS 235 Lecture Notes Spring 2010 Clayton Thyne Based on Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, Chapter 2. Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Lecture 2. Intro.

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Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Lecture 2

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  1. PS 235 Lecture Notes Spring 2010 Clayton Thyne Based on Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, Chapter 2 Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Lecture 2

  2. Intro • We recall from Ch.1 that social science is validated by (1) reason and (2) experience…or (1) the conceptual/theoretical and (2) the observational/empirical • This chapter focuses on #1: reason/theory

  3. What is a Concept? • Concept = symbol/abstraction/representation… shorthand descriptions of the empirical world • Examples include ‘power,’ ‘bureaucracy,’ ‘community,’ ‘repression’…

  4. Functions of Concepts • Functions of concepts: • Provide tools for communication • Allow us to develop a perspective – a way of looking at empirical phenomena in an objective way • Allow us to classify & generalize • Components of theories

  5. Definitions • 2 types: • Conceptual • Define concepts using other concepts • Operational • How concepts are actually measured

  6. Issues • Congruence: The measure must match the theoretical concept • Theoretical Import: the concept must be measurable, or it can’t be used

  7. Theory: Functions & Types • “Theory” is ambiguous • Good definition: “a logical-deductive system consisting of a set of interrelated concepts from which testable propositions can be derived deductively” • What a theory is not: • Something impractical • A philosophy

  8. Types of Theories • Ad-hoc classificatory systems • Taxonomies • Conceptual frameworks • Theoretical systems

  9. Axiomatic Theory • This is what you need to devise • 4 steps: • State concepts and definitions; both conceptual and operational • Define situation where the theory can be applied (unit of analysis) • Explain relationships between IV and DV using… • logic

  10. Why use Axiomatic Theory? • Forces careful description and explanation of concepts • Must operationalize concepts • Provides parsimony • Allows studies to build on each other • Allows for empirical verification of the theory

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