Question 1

Indicate the approach that each term fits best.
-Ideographic
A) positivist
B) interpretative
C) critical

Accepted Answer

Ideographic approaches are best aligned with interpretative research paradigms, focusing on understanding the complexity of human behavior and social phenomena from the perspective of those involved.

Question 2

Facts are viewed differently between the three main approaches to the social sciences. How do each of the three approaches understand social facts? How is each approach different? Does one approach bridge the differences between the other two? How?

Accepted Answer

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Question 3

Can science be "value free"? How does each approach to the social sciences address the issue of being "value free"? Explain.

Accepted Answer

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Question 4

Dr. Tea Greenburg wrote an article titled, "Freedom in a Cage: The Exploitation of Untenured Academics and Their Struggles with Academic Freedom." Which approach to social science is Dr. Greenburg most likely advocating?
A) critical social science
B) interpretive social science
C) feminist social science
D) positivist social science

Accepted Answer

The title "Freedom in a Cage: The Exploitation of Untenured Academics and Their Struggles with Academic Freedom" suggests a focus on power dynamics, inequality, and the critique of social structures, which aligns with the principles of critical social science. This approach aims to understand and transform society by examining the socio-political systems that perpetuate inequality and exploitation.

Question 5

What is the purpose of social research according to the positivist approach? How does this compare to a postmodern approach? How does this relate to how each approach defines social reality?

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

Each of the three main approaches to social science has strengths and weaknesses. Many of the weakness of positivism are subsequently addressed by interpretive and critical approaches, and vice versa. How have the perspectives of feminist and postmodern research address further weakness of each of the three main approaches?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Indicate the approach that each term fits best.
-Praxis
A) positivist
B) interpretative
C) critical

Accepted Answer

Praxis is most closely associated with the critical approach, as it involves the application of theory to practice in order to bring about social change.

Question 8

Applied and basic research were discussed in chapter 2. Which approach to social science is most likely to address each audience? Explain.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

Indicate the approach that each term fits best.
-Nomothetic
A) positivist
B) interpretative
C) critical

Accepted Answer

The nomothetic approach is associated with the positivist tradition, focusing on general laws and principles that apply across different instances. This approach is typical in natural sciences and is used in social sciences to seek generalizable findings.

Question 10

Often social scientists are confronted by the ideologies of commonsense. How does each of the main approaches to the social sciences address commonsense?

Accepted Answer

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Question 11

What are some of the criticisms of positivism? How do the imperative and critical approaches address these criticisms?

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Each of the three main approaches to social science makes assumptions about "nature of human beings." Compare and contrast the positivist, imperative, and critical approaches take on the "nature of human beings."

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

In the social sciences, an attempt is made to discover "the truth" about a social phenomenon. Which perspective attempts to find scientific truth by maintaining logical consistency, supported by observed facts, making sure that one's findings can be replicated by others?
A) interpretive social science
B) feminist social science
C) critical social science
D) positivist social science

Accepted Answer

Positivist social science emphasizes the use of the scientific method and empirical evidence to understand social phenomena. It seeks to maintain logical consistency in its theories and ensures that findings can be replicated by others, aligning with the principles of objectivity and verifiability.

Question 14

Social scientists use their knowledge in many different ways. How does each of the three main approaches to social science utilize the knowledge they learn? Utilize the instrumental, practical, and the reflexive-dialectic orientations to guide your answer.

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Explain the concept of verstehen and the way verstehen is used in interpretive social science.

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Question 16

Having been exposed to the three main approaches to social science, briefly outline how each perspective would propose research on the social issues surrounding the use of the death penalty in the United States.

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

Indicate the approach that each term fits best.
-Covering law model
A) positivist
B) interpretative
C) critical

Accepted Answer

The covering law model, also known as the deductive-nomological model, is associated with the positivist approach, which emphasizes empirical, observable, and measurable evidence, and often involves the formulation of hypotheses and laws that can predict phenomena.

Question 18

Indicate the approach that each term fits best.
-False consciousness
A) positivist
B) interpretative
C) critical

Accepted Answer

False consciousness is a concept derived from Marxist theory, which falls under the critical approach. This approach aims to critique and challenge societal structures, ideologies, and power dynamics, often focusing on issues of inequality, oppression, and social change. False consciousness specifically refers to the way in which material, ideological, and institutional processes in capitalist society mislead members of the proletariat and other classes about their true interests, effectively preventing them from recognizing the reality of their exploitation.

Question 19

While positivists attempt to define laws of social interaction, postmodern researchers advocate which of the following?
A) argue that the social sciences have historically been a male gendered science
B) aim to utilize social research to expose how power influences social interaction and serve as a catalyst for social change
C) are most concerned with the meaning of social interaction
D) aim to reject social laws and attempt to deconstruct the observable world to reveal the hidden structure

Accepted Answer

Postmodern researchers focus on deconstructing established narratives and structures to reveal underlying assumptions and power dynamics, rejecting the notion of universal social laws.

Quiz 4: The Meanings of Methodology

Indicate the approach that each term fits best. -Ideographic

Facts are viewed differently between the three main approaches to the social sciences. How do each of the three approaches understand social facts? How is each approach different? Does one approach bridge the differences between the other two? How?

Can science be "value free"? How does each approach to the social sciences address the issue of being "value free"? Explain.

Dr. Tea Greenburg wrote an article titled, "Freedom in a Cage: The Exploitation of Untenured Academics and Their Struggles with Academic Freedom." Which approach to social science is Dr. Greenburg most likely advocating?

What is the purpose of social research according to the positivist approach? How does this compare to a postmodern approach? How does this relate to how each approach defines social reality?

Indicate the approach that each term fits best. -Praxis

Applied and basic research were discussed in chapter 2. Which approach to social science is most likely to address each audience? Explain.

Indicate the approach that each term fits best. -Nomothetic

Often social scientists are confronted by the ideologies of commonsense. How does each of the main approaches to the social sciences address commonsense?

What are some of the criticisms of positivism? How do the imperative and critical approaches address these criticisms?

Each of the three main approaches to social science makes assumptions about "nature of human beings." Compare and contrast the positivist, imperative, and critical approaches take on the "nature of human beings."

In the social sciences, an attempt is made to discover "the truth" about a social phenomenon. Which perspective attempts to find scientific truth by maintaining logical consistency, supported by observed facts, making sure that one's findings can be replicated by others?

Social scientists use their knowledge in many different ways. How does each of the three main approaches to social science utilize the knowledge they learn? Utilize the instrumental, practical, and the reflexive-dialectic orientations to guide your answer.

Explain the concept of verstehen and the way verstehen is used in interpretive social science.

Having been exposed to the three main approaches to social science, briefly outline how each perspective would propose research on the social issues surrounding the use of the death penalty in the United States.

Indicate the approach that each term fits best. -Covering law model

Indicate the approach that each term fits best. -False consciousness

While positivists attempt to define laws of social interaction, postmodern researchers advocate which of the following?