Methodology & Theory (Fall 2025)

Flashcards covering methodology, different kinds of research questions, the definition and qualities of a good theory, prominent theories in family science (Family Systems, Evolutionary, Attachment, Bioecological), ethical considerations in research (IRB, grant funding, Dickey Amendment), cognitive biases like hindsight bias, and methods of operationalizing constructs in social science research (self-reports, systematic observation) along with their pros and cons, and construct validity.

Methodology

The systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to a field of study, or the theoretical analysis of the body of methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge.

Description Question

A type of research question that asks 'What happens?' such as 'What is the divorce rate?'

Prediction Question

A type of research question that asks 'When does it happen?' such as 'Does living together prior to marriage predict the likelihood of divorce?'

Explanation Question

A type of research question that asks 'Why does it happen?' focusing on understanding the underlying causes or associations of a phenomenon.

Theory

A general explanation of a phenomenon that answers 'why does this occur?' It exaggerates some factors and minimizes others to emphasize those considered especially important.

Good Theory

A theory that explains important phenomena in an elegant and parsimonious way, organizes existing knowledge, draws attention to important processes, guides measurement decisions, and identifies specific predictions and hypotheses.

Hypothesis

A specific, testable, and disconfirmable statement derived from a theory that researchers aim to study.

Family Systems Theory

A theory that examines roles and power dynamics in families, emphasizing that individuals exist within complex relationship systems and can only be understood by considering all aspects of the family.

Evolutionary Theory: Sexual Selection and Parental Investment

A theory proposing that traits increasing successful reproduction become dominant over millennia, leading to different mating strategies between males and females due to varying parental investment.

Attachment Theory

A theory stressing the importance of early caregiving relationships in shaping how people process information, adjust socially and emotionally in adulthood, and approach relationship partners.

Bioecological Theory

A theory assuming individuals exist within multiple complex systems of influence (biology to culture), all interacting to shape family functioning.

Microsystem (Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model)

Immediate environments where an individual has direct interaction in activities, roles, and relations with others and objects (e.g., family, school, friends).

Mesosystem (Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model)

The connections or interactions between an individual's microsystems (e.g., the link between home and school).

Exosystem (Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model)

Systems that influence the individual indirectly through the microsystem, representing broader contexts that the individual may not directly participate in but that affect their immediate environment (e.g., parents' workplace, local government).

Macrosystem (Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model)

The overarching norms, values, social ideologies, and laws of the culture and subcultures that influence all other systems.

Chronosystem (Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model)

Embraces the patterning of environmental events and transitions over the life course, as well as sociohistorical circumstances.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Administers codes of ethics in research to protect human research subjects by ensuring data confidentiality, minimizing harm, and enforcing best research practices.

Dickey Amendment (1996)

Legislation that historically barred the CDC from using funds to advocate or promote gun control, which was understood to extend to studying gun violence until clarified in 2019.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe you 'knew it all along' after learning that an event happened.

Construct

An abstract idea in social sciences that is measured, such as love, self-esteem, well-being, or poverty.

Operationalization

The process of translating an abstract construct into concrete terms so it can be measured and studied.

Self-reports

A method of operationalization where data is provided by the participant him/herself, typically through questionnaires or interviews.

Social Desirability Effects

A bias in self-reports where people do not always tell the truth, but rather report what they believe is socially acceptable or desired.

Sentiment Override

A bias similar to social desirability effects, where people's overall positive or negative feelings influence their specific reports, even if not entirely accurate.

Systematic Observation

A method of operationalization involving any data not provided by participants themselves, where independent observers watch and record verbal communication, non-verbal communication, written communication, or physiological responses.

Construct Validity

The extent to which a measure of a construct is a good and valid representation of that construct; whether the measure truly measures what it claims to measure.