...status, under a certain influence. Such an influence may derive from former experiences, social reference groups, reliance on popular media sources, or simply a fear of one being different from a significant other. The extent to which stereotypes contribute to our universal understanding is a crucial point of discussion. This is not to say that one may entirely agree that we are obliged to make use of stereotypes to gain an understanding of the world....
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...Discuss the difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Introduction Researchers in social sciences conduct research to gain knowledge of society and its inhabitants and how they interact with each other. A researcher may see an area where a factory has closed with mass redundancies, or they wish to enquire why ethnic minorities are stopped and searched more often by the police. The researcher is seeking to broaden our knowledge or fill in gaps in our knowledge and explain the phenomena (Bryman, 2008). To conduct the research a question must be framed that needs answering, and a methodology for the research chosen. There are two methodologies that are used in social science research, quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The quantitative methodology is influenced by the positivist tradition, which seeks a single truth that can be discovered by scientific investigation (Gilbert, 2005). The second methodology is qualitative, which is influenced by the interpretivist position. This position holds that truth is not so easy to find and reality is subjective and cannot be found through scientific methods (Benton & Craib,2001). This essay will look at both methodologies and try to discover if the research method is influenced by the type of information one wishes to collect, or if a methodology has no bearing on social reality. It will also examine a research question chosen by the author and their preferred research methodology. Quantitive Research ...
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...incorporate culture, including language, social practice, religion, etc. * the study of culture…it can be scientific, humanistic and based on observation * the study of humans in all parts of the world…it combines several fields into a holistic view * the study of humankind in all time and places * Anthropology is: 1. A Social Science * Academic discipline concerned with society and the relationships among individuals within a society, which often reply primarily on empirical approaches 2. Studies Culture * Culture is composed of ideas, values and perceptions * Culture is not instinctual, it must be learned and shared * Culture only exists within a society or group of people * Culture is a human adaptation to their environment 3. Holistic * The various parts of human culture and biology must be viewed in the broadest possible context in order to understand their interconnections and interdependence * Cultural Anthropology * The study of patterns of human behavior, thought and emotions, focusing on humans as culture-producing and culture-reproducing creatures * Ethnography * Detailed description of a particular culture * Ethnology * Study and analysis of different cultures from a comparative or historical point of view * Linguistic Anthropology * The study of human language – looking at their structure, history, and relation to social and cultural contexts * Descriptive...
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...ACE8001: What do we mean by Research? & Can we hope to do genuine Social Science Research (David Harvey) What do we mean by research? What might characterise good research practice? There is no point in us trying to re-invent the wheel - other and probably more capable people than us have wrestled with this problem before us, and it makes good sense and is good practice to learn what they have discovered. In other words - we need to explore more reliable and effective methods and systems for the pursuit of research than we have been doing so far. What is research? Dictionary Definitions of Research: * "The act of searching closely or carefully for or after a specified thing or person" * "An investigation directed to discovery of some fact by careful study of a subject" * "A course of scientific enquiry" (where scientific = "producing demonstrative knowledge") Howard and Sharp (HS) define research as: "seeking through methodical processes to add to bodies of knowledge by the discovery or elucidation of non-trivial facts, insights and improved understanding of situations, processes and mechanisms". [Howard, K. and Sharp, J.A. The Management of a student research project, Gower, 1983 - a useful and practical “how to do it” guide] Two other, more recent guides are: Denscombe, Martyn, 2002, Ground rules for good research: a 10 point guide for social research, Open University Press. Robinson Library Shelf Mark: 300.72 DEN, Level 3 (several copies)...
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...consequence of the normal activities of actors within an organization” (Fox & Harding 2005) Sociology- scientific study of human behavior, social groups, and society. * As stated by the American Sociological Association, sociology is the study of social life and the social causes and the consequences of human behavior. The term social life encompasses all the interpersonal relationships, all groups or collections of person, and all types of social organizations. The “Causes and consequences of human behavior” encompass how these relationships, groups, and organizations are interrelated; how they influence personal and interpersonal behavior; how they affect and are affected by the larger society, how they change or why they remain static; and what the consequences are of these factors. This definition reflects the belief that people can be understood only in the context of their contacts, associations, and communications with other people. The very heart of sociology then its concern with the complexities and subtleties of human social life makes it a discipline that is highly relevant not only to professional sociologists, but also to people in virtually every line of work and at every level. * Thus sociology may consider a wide range of general questions such as the following; HOW DO GROUPS INFLUENCE INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR? Social Imagination- quality of mind that allows us to understand the influence of history and biography on our interactive processes Sociological...
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...Science On the question of science, participants on various occasions referred to some of the misunderstandings surrounding this concept. It was repeatedly mentioned that, notwithstanding general agreement among development planners and practitioners about the crucial role that science has to play in development, many lacked a common understanding of its nature or the ways in which it can contribute to the wellbeing of the masses of humanity. As the discourse evolved over several years, many of these misconceptions were brought to light. Some of them are as follows: First, the practice of science is all too often reduced to the mere application of technology. What is lost sight of is the fact that science is a system of knowledge and practice that provides the methods and tools for the systematic and structured exploration of material and social reality. By asking questions about reality and seeking to answer them through a process of action, reflection and consultation, a population acquires the capacity to take charge of its own development and to promote the advancement of civilization. Due to the existing misrepresentation of the role of science in development, attention is focused on making people passive consumers of technology rather than on building their scientific capacity. Development Development as a concept is a victim of definitional pluralism. It is a difficult word to define. However, attempts have been made by erudite scholars to conceptualize development...
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...evidence/support (with citations); c) quality of writing. Role of science: What do you think the reason is for low scientific literacy and high rates of belief in pseudoscience? Is it related to positivist vs constructivist views? I believe that the high correlation between low scientific literacy and high rates of belief in pseudoscience not only stems from lack of reliable educational resources, but from other influential factors that ultimately lead to the formation of constructivist views. Constructivist stances are socially constructed by historical, social, and experiential processes (Giddens)....
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...The word 'science' is derived from the Latin word 'scientia' which means knowledge. Therefore, science is about gaining knowledge either through observing, studying, experience, or practice. Entire knowledge acquired through science is about discovering truths, finding facts, uncovering phenomenon hidden by the nature. Observations and experimentation, in science, support in describing truth and realities through systematic processes and procedures. For me, science is an intellectual set of activities designed to uncover information about anything related to this world in which we live. The information gathered is organized through scientific methods to form eloquent patterns. In my opinion the primary objective of science is to gather information and to distinguish the order found between facts. What Science Means to Me as an Upcoming Scientist Science exposes several ideas along with significant themes so that I could test them independently and without any bias to arrive at solid conclusion. For this purpose exchange of data and materials is necessary. I am able to generate real and tangible facts supported by reliable evidence. Work of scientist is based on theoretical science. It means, in theoretical science, there is only a sign, just a hint on which discoveries could be made, facts could be found. While studying science I am always working for determining truth, based on my perceptions, judgment, observation, experience, and knowledge collected through several means...
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...the works or literatures of the previous significant scholars or intellecutals. As innovation goes through and globalization or westernization happens, students learned how to exploit every available resources surrounding them. Listening to music, surfing the internet, lying on the bed, and doodling while reviewing (Hill,1997). All students have different independent minds and ways of thinking which result into different kinds of studying methods or habits. Undeniably, as human beings and are all different from each other, we all have different and independent minds or thoughts. We, as people, are unique. We are all uniquely different from each other. Our uniquely distinctive minds cause us to develop distinguish various ideas. Hence knowledge and intellect depends on the formation of way of critical thinking...
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...INTEGRATED CURRICULUM? The subject of curriculum integration has been under discussion off and on for the last half century, with a resurgence occurring over the past decade. The “explosion” of knowledge, fragmented teaching schedules, concern about curriculum relevancy, and lack of connections and relationships among disciplines have all been cited as reasons for a move towards an integrated curriculum (Jacobs, 1989). Almost every teacher has experienced the feeling that “there just isn’t enough time to get it all in” or “the school day just isn’t long enough for all that they are supposed to do; it seems that every year there are more things added to the curriculum”. This feeling of frustration is one of the motivations behind the development of an integrated curriculum. Teachers see this as part of the solution to the requirements that pull teachers in different ways. A basic definition is offered by Humphreys (Humphreys, Post & Ellis, 1981 cited in Lake, 1994) when he states, “An integrated study is one in which children broadly explore knowledge in various subjects related to certain aspects of their environment” (p.11). He sees links among the Humanities, Communication Arts, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Social Studies, Music, and Art. Skills and Knowledge are developed and applied in more that one area of study. In keeping with this thematic definition, shoemaker defines an integrated curriculum as Education that is organized in such a way that it cuts across subject matter...
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...Chapter 1 theories and methods. 1.1 Scientific Method in social science Describe some of the major areas of study in the social sciences: The major areas of study in social sciences are Political Science, Biology and Psychology, Geography, Sociology, anthropology and history. What was the main debate among the scholars in the social science department? The main debate among the scholars is which of all of the above areas of study are the most important and relevant when it comes to individual formation and thinking in reguards to social sciences and what causes people to become the people that they are. Location? Biological and Psychological make-up? Influence from higher powers (Political Science)? Or ancestry and our history? What factors do you think are the most important in shaping a human being? I truly believe that there is not really one factor that outweighs another, it is a mix of all of them. Perhaps Psychological factors may have more to do with it depending on an individual, however the Psyche can also be changed and manipulated quite easily according to events and a whole list of other things. How do the textbook authors define the scientific method? The purpose of the scientific method is to obtain evidence that is verifiable and subject to replication and to make no judgment about even the most seemingly obvious “facts” until original suppositions are overwhelmingly supported by proof. The basic technique of the scientific method is a special kind...
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...Compare and contrast the major characteristics of two methods of sociological inquiry. Your answer should clarify how: Each method relates to a distinct tradition of social research (e.g., positivism, interpretivism or the critical tradition); Addresses the issue of objectivity and; Account for the relationship between the natural and the social sciences. Research methods are a crucial part to understanding society. Without research methods, scientists and researchers would not be able to understand the why, the how or the what. There are three main traditions in social research; Positivism, Interpretivism and Critical Tradition. In this essay, the writer will examine two of these traditions; positivism and interpretivism. The writer will talk about each of these traditions, the history and the type of research method each are. The writer will discuss examples of each tradition, a qualitative research method and a quantitative research method. The writer will then go on to discuss the contributions of two major sociologists in each; Emile Durkheim for Positivism and Max Weber for Interpretivism. The writer will then go on to compare and contrast each tradition. Positivism was first established by French philosopher Auguste Comte in the early 19th century. Positivism can be defined as ‘’ the tendency to develop the means of our reason either to predict the phenomena of nature or to modify them through our intervention, which is the characteristic feature...
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...INTRODUCTION Is science a religion? This topic has been debated by many creationists and scientists alike. The philosophy of science makes no claims to knowledge about the supernatural or metaphysical and, by not so doing, is left with an enterprise that although hugely successful is also permanently on trial (Manne, 2010). The only thing scientists can agree upon is the empirical nature of science, but the steps from observations to theory are not without philosophical problems. DISCUSSION Thomas Kuhn thinks that scientific paradigms are essentially pictures of the world that are consistent with observations and logically coherent. But such pictures are necessarily always incomplete, at least until such time as we know everything, and our minds seem to struggle to accept this; it seems like there is an aesthetic compulsion to create harmonious images, even if that means filling in the spaces with metaphysical constructs. Andrew Brown states that the dictionary is wrong; science can be a religion too. He explains that if you strictly use the dictionary definition of science then it cannot be considered a religion, but if you look at science objectively you can see how it could be considered one. He makes a strong argument that religion has too many definitions for science to not be considered one. Richard Dawkins believes the opposite. He states that science is based upon verifiable evidence. Religious faith not only lacks evidence, its independence from evidence is its main...
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...beyond those. What’s beyond this real world that we see here? Why does it work the way that it works? Why is it here? How did it get here? Those are some metaphysical areas that we deal with here. We can break metaphysics into four sub-categories here. The first sub-category is cosmological metaphysics, and this deals specifically with the origin and purpose of reality. Why does anything exist at all? That’s often been called the first philosophical question. Why does anything exist? Where did reality come from? How did it develop the way that it was? What is its purpose—why is it here? Those are all cosmological questions. A second area of metaphysics is theological metaphysics, and this deals with the reality of something beyond the natural reality that we experience: the existence of some sort of supernatural. Here it deals with questions, Does God exist? Is there only one God? What is the nature of God—what is he like? How does he relate to reality? Now often times in philosophy courses you’ll study this under the area of philosophy of religion, but they are actually metaphysical questions because they are dealing with the ‘existence’ of...
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...AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE IN 10 MODULES E. Kolawole Ogundowole, Ph.D., D.Sc. Professor & Head of Philosophy Department University of Lagos. Akoka, Lagos. Nigeria Correct Counsels Limited Research. Counselling. Publishing. Book Supply First published 2003 Correct Counsels Ltd. P. O. Box 53 Akoka, Lagos. C E. Kolawole Ogundowole, 2003 ISBN: 978 -37004 - 0 – 5 This book is copyright. All rights reserved under the Copyright La Enquiries should be addressed to the Publishers. Printed in Nigeria by: Mustard Press Enterprises 16, Ogundola Street Sungas-BAriga. PREFACE A few words about the overall objectives of the course is appropriate as a starting point. Historically, philosophy was the first form of theoretical knowledge. As a rational theoretical tool of comprehending the world, philosophy arose in ancient Greece in stiff battle with mythology and religious consciousness. It came out to lay the foundation for the evolvement of scientific consciousness and the emergence and development of the sciences - Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc. In an environment rife with various and varying superstitions and myths, the study of the History of Science and Philosophy of Science becomes crucial, lest science itself falls within the ambit of mythology and superstition and becomes another form of myth even in the hands of the tutored. The study of the History of Science is particularly important...
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