Chapter 2 - Applying Sociological Research Methods – SOC 1000

30 fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the SOC 1000 lecture on sociological research methods.

Sociological “scientific” knowledge relies on __ methods that produce verifiable findings.

empirical

An abstract idea expressed as a word or phrase is called a __.

concept

A __ is a categorical concept for properties of people or things, such as “marital status.”

variable

In __ reasoning, researchers start with theory, derive hypotheses, gather data, and seek confirmation.

deductive

__ reasoning begins with observations, detects patterns, forms tentative hypotheses, and builds theory.

Inductive

The five goals of sociological research are to explore, describe, explain, evaluate, and __.

empower

The very first step in the research process is formulating a .

research question

A systematic summary of existing knowledge about a topic is called a .

literature review

Turning a question into a doable project requires narrowing the focus and __ variables.

operationalizing

A measurement that gives the same result every time is considered __.

reliable

A measurement that truly measures what it is intended to measure is __.

valid

In experiments, the presumed cause manipulated by the researcher is the __ variable.

independent

The outcome that researchers measure in an experiment is the __ variable.

dependent

Placing participants into conditions by chance is known as .

random assignment

The group that receives no experimental treatment and serves as a baseline is the __ group.

control

Counting things or testing hypotheses typifies __ research methods.

quantitative

Describing the quality of phenomena in words typifies __ research methods.

qualitative

A moderated interview with a small group conducted simultaneously is called a .

focus group

Analyzing information originally collected for another purpose is known as analysis.

secondary data

Fieldwork that documents everyday behaviour in natural settings to learn about a group is __.

ethnography

Watching behaviour without participating, such as observing children in a park, is __ observation.

systematic

Canadian research ethics are guided by the - (TCPS2).

Tri-Council Policy Statement

The three core principles of TCPS2 are respect for persons, concern for welfare, and __.

justice

A research design focusing on one person, organization, or event is called a - design.

single-case

Software such as SPSS and NVivo are typically used during the phase.

data analysis

Sharing results at conferences and in journals allows studies to undergo .

peer review

Because it applies scientific methods to society, sociology is considered a .

social science

In survey research, investigators aim for a __ sample that closely mirrors the population.

representative

Using both qualitative and quantitative techniques in one study is called or methods.

mixed; multiple

Ethical guidelines in research were reinforced by historical cases such as the Experiment.

Stanford Prison