D. Objectivity, Value Freedom, Reliability, Quantitative data

Sociological positivists argue that the sociological research methods used to test hypotheses should exhibit the following features to qualify as scientific

• R___

• Objective or ___ ___

• R___

• G___

• ___ data

• V___

Sociological positivists argue that the sociological research methods used to test hypotheses should exhibit the following features to qualify as scientific

• Reliability

• Objective or value free

• Representativeness

• Generalisations

• Quantitative data

• Validity

The research method should follow ___ and ___ ___ so that other social scientists can replicate the research.

The research method should follow systematic and logical procedures so that other social scientists can replicate the research.

Replication ensures the ___ of the research method and process.

Replication ensures the reliability of the research method and process.

Positivists argue that if the ___ ___ used to test a hypothesis is reliable, another sociologist should be able to ___ the research and ___ ___ the same or similar results.

Positivists argue that if the research process used to test a hypothesis is reliable, another sociologist should be able to repeat the research and consistently obtain the same or similar results.

Repeating of research aims to ___ and ___ the ___ ___ of the way that evidence or data is gathered.

Repeating of research aims to check and verify the scientific accuracy of the way that evidence or data is gathered.

Positivists believe scientific research should be ___ or ___ ___.

Positivists believe scientific research should be objective or value free.

Being objective or value free means sociologists should be ___ and not allow their ___ or ___ ___ or their ___ to bias any aspect of their research method or their interpretation of the data they collect.

Being objective or value free means sociologists should be neutral and not allow their personal or political values or their prejudices to bias any aspect of their research method or their interpretation of the data they collect.

The sociologist should be determined to pursue scientific truths with an ___ ___.

The sociologist should be determined to pursue scientific truths with an open mind.

Representativeness means that the people who take part in the research should have ___ typical of the ___ ___ being studied.

• They should come from the same or similar ___ ___

• They should reflect the same ratio of ___, ___ and ___

Representativeness means that the people who take part in the research should have characteristics typical of the larger population being studied.

• They should come from the same or similar socioeconomic backgrounds

• They should reflect the same ratio of gender, age and ethnicity

Positivists aim to select a ___ ___ of the group they are studying.

Positivists aim to select a representative sample of the group they are studying.

Representativeness justifies the sociologist making ___ based on the data they have collected from the sample.

Representativeness justifies the sociologist making generalisations based on the data they have collected from the sample.

Generalisations means the sociologist can safely conclude what is true of the ___ that was actually studied is probably true of the ___ ___ to which the sample belongs.

Generalisations means the sociologist can safely conclude what is true of the sample that was actually studied is probably true of the wider population to which the sample belongs.

Positivists are keen on ___ data.

Positivists are keen on quantitative data.

Quantitative data is data that can be expressed in ___ ___ and presented in the form of ___, ___, ___ ___, etc.

Quantitative data is data that can be expressed in numerical form and presented in the form of graphs, tables, bar charts, etc.

The patterns and trends in ___ ___ that are demonstrated by quantitative data can then be ___ and ___ in order to establish ___ or ___ between aspects of the social structure, like social ___ and social ___.

The patterns and trends in human behaviour that are demonstrated by quantitative data can then be observed and compared in order to establish correlations or links between aspects of the social structure, like social class and social behaviour.

These correlations can then be used to help to uncover ___ and ___ relationships, which can establish ‘___ ___’ or ‘___’.

These correlations can then be used to help to uncover cause and effect relationships, which can establish ‘social facts’ or ‘laws’.

All sociologists strive to achieve ___.

All sociologists strive to achieve validity.

Validity is a concept referring to whether the research findings give a ___ ___ of what is being studied, it should ___ ___ ____ of the persons or groups being studied.

Validity is a concept referring to whether the research findings give a true picture of what is being studied, it should reflect the reality of the persons or groups being studied.

Positivists argue that their approach is the most effective way of achieving validity, because they believe if the research is ___ ___, then the data gathered should present an ___ or ___ ___ of what is being ___.

Positivists argue that their approach is the most effective way of achieving validity, because they believe if the research is well designed, then the data gathered should present an authentic or valid picture of what is being investigated.

Positivist sociologists argue that the scientific approach they advocate can produce ___ ___ or ___ ___ of human behaviour that they call ‘___ ___’ or ‘___ ___’.

Positivist sociologists argue that the scientific approach they advocate can produce absolute truths or scientific laws of human behaviour that they call ‘social laws’ or ‘social facts’.

Early sociological positivists argued that uncovering these social facts or laws means ___ can be made about the ___ ___.

Early sociological positivists argued that uncovering these social facts or laws means predictions can be made about the social world.

These predictions makes possible a certain amount of ___ ___ to modify or change the social world for the better.

These predictions makes possible a certain amount of social engineering to modify or change the social world for the better.

Using Durkheim’s research, positivists believed that any ___ from the expected ___ ___ of a society can be investigated so that the cause of the problem can be ___ and ___.

Using Durkheim’s research, positivists believed that any deviations from the expected suicide rate of a society can be investigated so that the cause of the problem can be identified and solved.

Positivists believed that this potential for social engineering could lead to a reduction of ___, ___, or ___ ___, etc.

Positivists believed that this potential for social engineering could lead to a reduction of poverty, crime, or social unrest, etc.