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A treatise on an epistemological problem

A treatise on an epistemological problem. How to measure (and not measure) the prevalence of discrimination?. Endre Sik. The negative discourse – Inherent controversy between quali and quanti – No compromise possible (any combination provides the mix of the downside of both methods).

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A treatise on an epistemological problem

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  1. A treatise on an epistemological problem How to measure (and not measure) the prevalence of discrimination? Endre Sik

  2. The negative discourse – Inherent controversy between quali and quanti – No compromise possible (any combination provides the mix of the downside of both methods) The positive discourse Re-invention of alternative methodological solutions might open new paths – no panacea but better than the dead-end street

  3. The three evaluation criteria: reliability, validity and generalisability Reliability: the consistency of the measuring instruments and/or anytime repeated – same result Validity: consistency between the data and ”reality” , between the measuring instrument and the conclusion and the minimum of unobserved factors Generalisability: the extent to which research findings can be applied to settings other than that in which they were originally tested If all three perfect – predictibility is at the max – the dream of social sciences but it is impossible

  4. The inherent difference between quali and quanti The optimum The qualitative bias Validity Validity Reliability Generalisability Reliability Generalisability The quantitative bias Validity Reliability Generalisability

  5. The idealtypes of measurement techniques

  6. The illustration: the prevalence of discrimination to predict discriminative behavior • Not the attitudes towards discrimination (attitude survey) • Not the consequences of discrimination (wage data) • Not the media representation of discrimination (content analysis) • Not the unintended-unconscious (Implicit Association Test) But the behavior of average actors (employer, fellow employee, customer, landlord, teacher, policeman, clerk, salesman, etc.) in everyday circumstaces

  7. Tentative overview by the three evaluation criteria of the idealtypes of measurement techniques

  8. To sum up We know everything about nothing (R- and G-) qualitative methods, laboratory and quasi laboratory experiment, natural experiment We might know something about something (no -) discrimination testing, non-participant observation We know nothing about everything (V-) discrimination statistics, survey

  9. Controlled experiment and non-participant observationas best options Controlled experiment and non-participant observation The qualitative bias Validity Validity After major efforts and still not as panacea (most processes and stiuations are unobservable and uncontrollable Generalisability Reliability Reliability Generalisability The quantitative bias Validity Reliability Generalisability

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