About this Video

• Video Title: Theory and research 4
• Channel: UCDCMN101
• Speakers: (Not specified in transcript)
• Duration: 00:05:05

Introduction

This video contrasts social scientific theories with interpretive theories. It explains the characteristics of interpretive theories, highlighting their focus on meaning-making, idiographic nature, and evaluative approach. The video also details common research methods used in interpretive studies, such as textual analysis and ethnography, and illustrates these concepts using the example of Apple's organizational culture.

Key Takeaways

• Interpretive theories focus on creating perspectives to understand meaning, unlike social scientific theories which focus on how things are. They are about interpreting the meaning of things.
• Interpretive theories are idiographic, meaning they apply to single or small numbers of cases, focusing on understanding unique instances.
• Interpretive theories are evaluative, not associative, prioritizing judgment and meaning over statistical correlations.
• Methods for interpretive research include textual analysis and ethnography, which involve systematic description and interpretation of messages and observation of people in their natural settings, respectively.
• Organizational culture, as exemplified by Apple, can be studied using interpretive theories, focusing on stories, rituals, and decision-making processes to understand the organization's values and practices.