POL 280 Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards created from POL 280 Study Guide focusing on key terms and definitions.

Causality vs Correlation

Causality refers to a cause-effect relationship, while correlation is merely a relationship between two variables.

Empirical

Based on observation and data.

Normative

Based on values and what should be.

Applied vs Pure Research

Applied research solves real-world problems; pure research builds theoretical frameworks.

Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning moves from data to theory, while deductive reasoning moves from theory to test.

Paradigms

Frameworks of understanding: Positivist (objective), Post-positivist (imperfect), Constructivist (social reality), Critical (focus on power).

Theory & Hypotheses

Theory explains phenomena, while hypotheses are used to test these theories.

Variables

Types include independent variable (IV - cause), dependent variable (DV - effect), controls, and intervening variables.

Operationalization

The process of measuring concepts.

Validity vs Reliability

Validity refers to accuracy while reliability refers to consistency of a measure.

Ethics & IRB

Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for protecting research subjects.

Transparency & Replication

Research should be open and repeatable to ensure validity.

Units of Analysis

The entities being studied; ecological fallacy occurs when assumptions about individuals are made based on group data.

Experiments vs Observational Studies

Experiments involve controlled variables, while observational studies do not manipulate variables.

Endogeneity vs Exogeneity

Endogeneity refers to bias from internal factors; exogeneity indicates independence from internal factors.

Internal vs External Validity

Internal validity refers to accuracy, while external validity refers to generalizability of results.

Population vs Sample

Population is the whole group studied, while a sample is a subset of that population.

Descriptive Statistics

Statistics that summarize data.

Charts: Bar vs Histogram

Bar charts are for categorical data; histograms represent continuous data.

Central Limit Theorem (CLT)

States the sampling distribution of the mean will tend to be normal, regardless of the shape of the population distribution.

Data Types

Include cross-sectional, panel, and time-series data.

Bivariate vs Multivariate

Bivariate analysis examines 2 variables; multivariate considers many variables.

Central Tendency

Measures include mean, median, and mode.

Dispersion

Includes range, variance, and standard deviation.

Variable Types

Includes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio types.

Dummy Variables

Variables that are coded as 0 or 1.

Null Hypothesis & P-value

The null hypothesis is a statement tested for significance; the p-value indicates the strength of the test.

Distributions

Can be univariate, bivariate, or multimodal.

Outliers & Skew

Outliers are extreme values; skew indicates asymmetry in data.

Confidence Interval

A range of values that is likely to contain the true population parameter.

T-test

A statistical test used to compare means between two groups.

Chi-square Test

Assesses relationships between categorical variables.

Correlation (r)

Measures the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Regression

A method for predicting the dependent variable (DV) based on one or more independent variables (IVs).

R-squared

Represents the proportion of variance in the dependent variable that can be explained by the independent variables.

Omitted Variable Bias

Occurs when a model omits a relevant variable that influences both the dependent and independent variables.

Residuals

The differences between observed and predicted values, representing the error term in a model.

Fieldwork

Real-world data collection process in qualitative research.

Observation

Data collection method that can be structured or unstructured.

Participant Observation

The researcher actively engages in the environment being studied.

Obtrusive vs Unobtrusive

Obtrusive research involves the subject knowing they are being studied, whereas unobtrusive research does not.

Ethnography

A qualitative research method aimed at studying cultures.

Interviews

Can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured, depending on the format.

Focus Groups

A group discussion method used to gather insights and opinions.

Reflexivity

The awareness of the researcher about their potential influence on the research.

Case Studies

In-depth analysis of a particular case or situation.

Content Analysis

The study of texts or media to analyze themes and patterns.

Archival Research

A research method that involves studying existing records.

Thick Description

A detailed account that provides context and meaning.

Subjectivity

The concept that researcher perspectives can influence findings.

Process Tracing

A method that identifies causal steps in a sequence.