Empirical Data and Theory Construction

Abstract

The classical approach in sociology, as much as in other scientific fields, consists in the use of hypotheses and hypothesis testing processes to determine what, if any, effects can be attributed to particular factors in the case being studied. Other scholars however propose another procedure that eliminates the presence of previous hypotheses and privileges an interpretive – as opposed to a hypothetic-deductive – approach to data analysis. However, in the latter approach crucial questions appear for the researcher: how does one approach the data and data analyses to ensure the credibility of findings? Blumer's suggestion of “sensitizing concepts” seems to be appropriate in order to reach not only reliable interpretations of data but also to retain the possibility of “building theory”. This process could be supported by computer-assisted research.