Critical paradigm-

a paradigm in social science research focused on power, inequality, and social change

Paradigm-

a way of viewing the world and a framework from which to understand the human experience

Positivism-

a paradigm guided by the principles of objectivity, knowability, and deductive logic

Postmodernism-

a paradigm focused on the historical and contextual embeddedness of scientific knowledge and a skepticism towards certainty and grand explanations in social science

Social constructionism-

a paradigm based on the idea that social context and interaction frame our realities

Theory-

“a systematic set of interrelated statements intended to explain some aspect of social life” (Rubin & Babbie, 2017, p. 615)

Deductive approach-

study what others have done, reads existing theories of whatever phenomenon she is studying, and then tests hypotheses that emerge from those theories

Inductive approach-

start with a set of observations and then move from particular experiences to a more general set of propositions about those experiences

Systems —

Social Work Theory Interrelations between parts of society; how parts work together. How a lack of employment opportunities might impact rates of substance abuse in an area.

Conflict —

Social Work Theory Who wins and who loses based on the way that society is organized. How the War on Drugs has impacted minority communities.

Symbolic Interactionism —

Social Work Theory How meaning is created and negotiated though interactions. How people’s self-definitions as “addicts” helps or hurts their ability to remain sober

Social Exchange —

Social Work Theory How behavior is influenced by costs and rewards. Whether increased distribution of anti-overdose medications makes overdose more or less likely

Deterrence theory-

predicts that arresting an accused spouse batterer will reduce future incidents of violence

Labeling Theory-

predicts that arresting accused spouse batterers will increase future incidents.

Control Theory-

predicts that having some stake in conformity through the social ties provided by marriage and employment