Errors in Causal Explanations

Review of Units of Analysis (UA):

Geographic areas Organizations Groups Individuals

Problems related to link different units of analysis or a

mismatch of UA between Data one has and the statement one makes

Errors in Causal Explanations 2

Two Types of Errors 1. Ecological Fallacy Def. Have data at higher level of UA but make statement at lower level
Examples: Hunger & Ethiopia, Cigar smoking in a state And ones smoking habit, Muslin & terrorist, Boston & Harvard

Type 2: Reductionism or Individualistic Fallacy

2. Reductionism or Individualistic Fallacy Def. Having data at lower level of UA & make statement at higher level of UA Using simplistic explanation to explain Macro level events or complicated social problems or phenomenon

 2. Reductionism or Individualistic Fallacy Examples: Serbian assassination of Archduke in Austria & WWI; Personality of Leadership & problems in the system (Stalin & Gobachev); aggressive personality & social development; corruption (individual problems or system wide problems)

Sampling: Introduction: Basic Concepts

1. Introduction. Basic Concepts Basic Concepts: a. Sample: subset of people or other entities selected for a study from a larger population b. Population: the entire set of individuals or other entities to which stud findings are to be generalized it usually consists of all cases one intends to study.

Sampling: Basic Concepts

c. Sampling elements: individual members of the population whose characteristics are to be measured. The entire set of sampling elements constitutes the population (individuals, all issues of newspapers /magazines, all movies produced in US) D. Sampling unit the units actually selected in each stage of sampling process (states, counties, cities, communities).

Basic Concepts
e. Sampling Frame: a list of the elements of a population from which a sample actually is selected an operational def of population Types of Sampling: two types: probability sampling & non-probability sampling

Probability Sampling
Types of Probability Sampling 1. Simple random Demonstration: website: http://www.randomizer.org/ Click randomizer Sets of number: one set Number per set: 75 Number Range: 9200

Select 500 phone number

How to Generate 500 phone numbers from 617-295 (Exchange or prefix) The possible range of telephone numbers 295-0000 to 295-9999. Select 500 from this range.