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Ecological Fallacy & Sampling

The document discusses two types of errors in causal explanations: ecological fallacy and reductionism/individualistic fallacy. Ecological fallacy occurs when data is analyzed at a higher level of aggregation but conclusions are drawn about lower levels. Reductionism/individualistic fallacy is the opposite - drawing conclusions about higher levels of aggregation based on data from lower levels. Examples of each error are provided. The document also introduces sampling concepts like population, sample, sampling elements and frames, and discusses probability and non-probability sampling methods.

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Kailas Venkat
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303 views9 pages

Ecological Fallacy & Sampling

The document discusses two types of errors in causal explanations: ecological fallacy and reductionism/individualistic fallacy. Ecological fallacy occurs when data is analyzed at a higher level of aggregation but conclusions are drawn about lower levels. Reductionism/individualistic fallacy is the opposite - drawing conclusions about higher levels of aggregation based on data from lower levels. Examples of each error are provided. The document also introduces sampling concepts like population, sample, sampling elements and frames, and discusses probability and non-probability sampling methods.

Uploaded by

Kailas Venkat
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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.

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