ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY, ATHABASCA2024SOC 366 MIDTERMEXAMQUESTIONSANDANSWERS: 85/100

ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY, ATHABASCA2024SOC 366 MIDTERMEXAMQUESTIONSANDANSWERS: 85/100Identify and explain the main functions of theory in social research. [10 points] Theory is defined as a system of interconnected abstractions/idea that summarizes and organizes knowledge about the social world. The function of theory in social research essentially is to explore topics that dont have answers (scientifically) but still need some sort of explanation to filter results. The main functions of theories are: explaining the phenomena (theories providecrucial understanding of what happens, why it happened, and under what conditions it has happened in), to act as a guidance for the research workaswell as the practice (theories help provide focus and directs the attentionof theresearcher towards specific phenomena), to fosters integrations (theoriesessentially aid in the finding solutions to questions and the understandingof why something may have happened). Theory deals with what one observes and experiences within society. Social research takes that experience and those observations and turns it intowhat it is and why. Although theory is not a fact nor can it settle debates, it canbechallenged and adapted by other researchers - it is a logical aspect of science. Theory is defined as a system of interconnected abstractions/idea that summarizes and organizes knowledge about the social world. 10/10 What is the relationship between theory and research? Explain your answer using one examplefrom the readings. [10 points] In the the reading, it states that there is no simple recipe as its far moreopenended but again theory has to do with what we observe and experienceinlife. Theory is not a fact, rather it is a systematic explanation for the observationsthat relates to a particular aspect of life. The research is how we gather the ONLYSTUDENT STORE 2024/2025 ALL THEBESTONLYSTUDENT STORE 2 observations and bring them together and there are many ways to do sobut it essentially depends on the type of information we intend to gather andhowweintend to gather it. ONLYSTUDENT STORE 2024/2025 ALL THEBESTONLYSTUDENT STORE 3 An example as to how research and theory are linked is through two logical methods: deduction and induction. Deduction involves the derivationof hypotheses from theories, whereas induction involves the development of generalization from specific observations to arrive at a theory. The theoryistheproduct of research; theory is the logical method and research is what theresults come out of applying these theories to the observation. An example would be the police and racial profiling. The main purposeof theorywithin policing is to keep all individuals safe by positively influencing thedutiesand actions of police officers. Theory can essentially be research processbygenerating and also testing phenomena of interest. 9.50/10 (Good focus on deductive and inductive logic.) Define causality and its applicability to social science research. [6 points] Causality is the relationship between cause and effect - an action that bringsabout a change, a correlation, an association, or a relationship. Its applicabilityin regards to social science research is the process of how something happens. Causality is what one process to another process (A to B) so essentially Aispartly responsible for the outcome of B and B depends on A. However, thereareconditions that most be met in order for causality to occur. if A is the causethenit has to occur before B can occur. This is called temporal order. In social research we use the variables X and Y axis for example and thesevariables affect one another. If in our research we discover that they doneaffect one another then there is no causality and there is a problemwith our researchitself. Unlike in natural sciences where its easier to establish causality, thesocial sciences definition of causality is more complex. In social sciences it is sometimes difficult to determine if A is causing Bor if there are other factors influencing the change in B and because of this, casual explanations in the social sciences are probabilistic. This means that thelikelihood of a certain event occurring when certain conditions are present rather than being certain that the event will occur. 6/6 Discuss the criteria for nomothetic causality.