CHAPTER 4

1. What is meant by the term philosophical framework in relation to social research?

Philosophical framework is the worldview within which the research is situated. This can be seen
in every step of the process. Each step in the research process, as designed by the researcher,
should be appropriate to, or should fit with the purpose of the research. Every aspect of the
research project, as it is developed by the researcher, should fit with the philosophical framework
within the research project is situated.
2. Name and briefly explain three philosophical frameworks used in social research.
Functionalism: within sociology, is the study of the structures of society and the manner in which
those structures serve societal needs.
Structuralism: holds that human culture can be understood as a system of signs, that meaning is
produced and reproduced in society through systems of signs, such as different structures, for
example economic structures, different practices, and ways of doing things.
Critical Theory: is the examination and critique of society, with a view to exposing systems of
domination through a focus on values and norms.
3. What is quantitative data?
Quantitative data are data in the form of numbers, numerical data; or data that can readily be
coded numerically.
4. What is qualitative data?
Qualitative data are data which are non-numerical; data that represents feelings, thoughts, ideas,
understandings of non-numerical data
5. Give an example of how simple and concise qualitative data can be coded numerically.
An example of how and concise qualitative data can be coded numerically is by knowing if the
respondents are married or single. Married or single, as a type of marital status of a person, can be
coded numerically.
6. Explain why the numerical coding of qualitative data can be inappropriate.
Numerical coding of qualitative data can be inappropriate if there is a lot of variations of
characteristics or quality to be coded which is too complex to be coded numerically. Reducing the
complexity of qualitative data to the level of a numerical code may substantially damage the
research project, and at the same time raise ethical issues regarding the management of data.
7. Explain the limits of research developed without a theoretical base.
Research developed without a theoretical base does not have a theoretical framework, a particular
body of knowledge; the findings of such research are generally confined to the specific context
within which the research was conducted and can make a contribution only in this very limited
context; such research cannot make a contribution to theory and cannot go towards developing
the knowledge base.
8. Explain what is meant by the statement concepts are the building blocks of theory.
Concepts are key ideas, key words, often the big words in a sentence, a paragraph in an idea.
Each theory is made up of a number of concepts, created in different concepts and form the way
in which different concepts are grouped together or aligned.
9. Briefly explain the process of developing theory, as detailed in this chapter.
The process of developing a theory or new extension to the existing theory is a cycle. The data
gathered from the developed conceptual and theoretical framework are analyzed and the findings
and conclusions drawn are theorized. The result of from the theorization is a new theory, or a new
extension of existing theory.
10. Explain why it is necessary to engage with the literature before making final decisions
regarding the focus of the research project.
In order not being ending up conducting a research on a topic that has already been well
researched, or ending up conducting research topic that is out of date.