research methods

Quantitative methods

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Methods that seek to obtain info about social word that can be in numeric form

Qualitative methods

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Methods that attempt to collect info about the social world that cannot be readily converted to numeric form

deductive approach

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Starts with a theory, forms a hypothesis, makes empirical observations, analyzes data to confirm, reject or modify the original theory

Inductive appraoch

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Starts with empirical observations and then works to form a theory

Causality

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Change in one factor leads to change in another

3 factors to establish causality

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correlation, time order, ruling out alternative explanations

reverse causality

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Situation in which the researcher believes that A results in a change in B, but B, in fact is causing A

Dependent variable

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the outcome that the researcher is trying to explain

Independent variable

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measured factor that research believes has a casual impact on the dependent variable

Operationalization

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Process of assigning a precise method for measuring a term being examined for use in a particular study

Validity

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The extent to which an instrument measures what it is intended to measure

Reliability

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getting consistent results use the same measure

Generalizability

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We can claim our findings inform us about a group larger than the one we studied

placebo

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fake experiment

double blind study

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neither researchers or subjects know who the study or control group are

reflexivity

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analyzing and critically considering our own role in, and effect on our research

participant obseration

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qualitative research method that seeks to uncover the meanings people give their behavior by observing social actions in practice

historical methods

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research that collects data from written reports, newspapers, journals, transcripts, television, programs, diaries, artwork and other artifacts that date to a prior time period under study

comparative research

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researcher compares two or more entities(usually countries or cultures) with the intent of learning more about the factors that differ between them

Experimental methods

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Seek to alter the social landscape in a very specific way for a given sample of individuals and then track what results that change yields, often involve comparisons to a control group that did not experience such an intervention