Studying Social Life Sociological Research Methods

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62 Terms

1

Quantitative Research

research that translates the social world into numbers that can be treated mathematically; this type of research often tries to find cause-and-effect relationships

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2

Qualitative research

research that works with nonnumerical data such as texts, field notes, interview transcripts, photographs, and tape recordings; this type of research more often tries to understand how people make sense of their world

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3

Scientific method

a procedure for acquiring knowledge that emphasizes collecting concrete data through observation and experiment

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4

Literature review

a thorough search through previously published studies relevant to a particular topic

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5

Hypothesis

A theoretical statement explaining the relationship between 2 or more phenomena

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6

Variables

2 or more phenomena that a researcher believes are related; these will be examined in the experiement

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7

Operational definition

a clear and precise definition of a variable that facilitates its measurement

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8

Replicabiliity

The ability of research to be repeated and thus,later verified by other researchers

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9

Correlation

A relationship between variables in which they change together and may or may not be casual

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10

Causation

a relationship between variables in which a change in one directly produces a change in the other

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11

intervening variable

a third variable, sometimes overlooked, that explains the relationship between two other variables

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12

Spurious correlation

The appearance of causation produced by an intervening variable

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13

Deductive approach

an approach whereby the researcher formulates a hypothesis first and then gathers data to test that hypothesis

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14

Inductive approach

an approach whereby the researcher gathers data first, then formulates a theory to fit the data

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15

Ethnography

a naturalistic method based on studying people in their own environment in order to understand the meanings they attribute to their activities; also the written work that results from the study

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16

participant observation

a methodology associated with ethnography whereby the researcher both observes and becomes a member in a social setting

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17

Rapport

a positive relationship often characterized by mutual trust or sympathy

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18

Field notes

detailed notes taken by an ethnographer describing her activities and interactions, which later become the basis of the analysis

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19

Autoethnography

a form of participant observation where the feelings and actions of the researcher become a focal point of the ethnographic study

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20

thick description

the presentation of detailed data on interactions and meaning within a cultural context, from the perspective of its members

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21

Reflexivity

how the identity and activities of the researcher influence what is going on in the field setting

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22

grounded theory

an inductive method of generating theory from data by creating categories in which to place data and then looking for relationships among categories

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23

Representativeness

The degree to which a particular studied group is similar to, or represents, any part of the larger society

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24

Validity

the accuracy of a question or measurement tool; the degree to which a researcher is measuring what he thinks he is measuring

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25

Interviews

person-to-person conversations for the purpose of gathering information by means of questions posed to respondents

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26

Respondent

a participant in a study from whom the researcher seeks to gather information

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27

Target population

the entire group about which a researcher would like to be able to generalize

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28

Sample

The members of the target population who will actually be studied

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29

Focus group

a process for interviewing a number of participants together, it also allows for interaction among group members

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30

Informed consent

a safeguard through which the researcher makes sure that respondents are freely participating and understand the nature of the research

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31

Closed-ended question

a question asked of a respondent that imposes a limit on the possible responses

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32

Open-ended question

a question asked of a respondent that allows the answer to take whatever form the respondent chooses

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33

Leading questions

Questions that predispose a respondent to answer in a certain way

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34

Double-barreled questions

questions that attempt to get at multiple issues at once, and so tend to receive incomplete or confusing answers

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35

Life history

an approach to interviewing that asks for a chronological account of the respondent's entire life, or some portion of it

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36

Surveys

research method based on questionnaires that are administered to a sample of respondents selected from a target population

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37

Likert scale

a way of formatting a survey questionnaire so that the respondent can choose an answer along a continuum

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38

Negative questions

survey questions that ask respondents what they don't think instead of what they do think

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39

pilot study

A small-scale carried out to test the feasibility of conducting a study on a larger scale

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40

Probability sampling

Any sampling procedure that uses randomization

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41

Simple random sample

a particular type of probability sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

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42

Response rate

The number or percentage of surveys completed by respondents and returned to researchers

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43

Reliability

The consistency of a question or measurement tool; the degree to which the same questions will produce similar answers

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44

Existing sources

materials that have been produced for some other reason, but that can be used as data for social research

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45

Unobtrusive measures

research methods that rely on existing sources and where the researcher does not intrude upon or disturb the social setting or its subjects

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46

comparative historical research

research that uses existing sources to study relationships among elements of society in various regions and time periods

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47

Content analysis

a method in which researchers identify and study specific variables or themes that appear in a text, image, or media message

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48

Experiments

formal tests of specific variables and effects that are performed in a setting where all aspects of the situation can be controlled

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49

Experimental group

The members of a test group who receive the experimental treatment

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50

Control group

the members of a test group who are allowed to continue without intervention so that they can be compared with the experimental group

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51

independent variable

factor that is predicted to cause change

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52

dependent variable

the factor that is changed (or not) by the independent variable

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53

Basic research

the search for knowledge without an agenda or practical goal in mind

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54

Applied search

The search for knowledge that can be used to create social change

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55

Bias

an opinion held by the researcher that might affect the research or analysis

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56

Objectivity

impartiality, the ability to allow the facts to speak for themselves

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57

Reactivity

the tendency of people and events to react to the process of being studied

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58

Hawthorne effect

a specific example of reactivity, in which the desired effect is the result not of the independent variable but of the research itself

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59

Deception

the extent to which the participants in a research project are unaware of the project or its goals

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60

Confidentiality

the assurance that no one other than the researcher will know the identity of a respondent

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61

Code of ethics

ethical guidelines for researchers to consult as they design a project

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62

Institutional review board

a group of scholars within a university who meet regularly to review and approve the research proposals of their colleagues and make recommendations for how to protect human subjects

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