SOC 260

Intersubjectivity

Shared understanding or agreement between individuals, often used in research to account for multiple perspectives.

Tertiary Sources

Publications that compile or summarize information from primary and secondary sources, such as encyclopedias or textbooks.

Survey Research

A quantitative research method that collects data through questionnaires or interviews to understand trends and opinions.

Hawthorne Effect

The alteration of behavior by study participants due to their awareness of being observed.

Nomothetic

An approach in research that seeks to establish general laws or principles that apply to many cases, often contrasted with idiographic approaches.

Intervening Variable

A variable that mediates the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable, providing insight into how effects occur.

Plagiarism

The act of using someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution, considered unethical in academic contexts.

Authority Study (Dr. Milgram)

A famous psychological experiment demonstrating obedience to authority figures, often involving moral dilemmas.

Applied Research

Research aimed at solving practical problems, often in real-world contexts, as opposed to purely theoretical investigation.

Relativism

The belief that knowledge, morality, and truth are not absolute but vary based on context or perspective.

Grounded Theory

A systematic methodology in social research that operates inductively, deriving theories from the data rather than starting with a hypothesis.

Basic Research

Fundamental research aimed at increasing scientific knowledge without immediate practical application in mind.

Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

A notorious study in which African American men with syphilis were misled and denied treatment for research purposes.

Humphrey’s Bathhouse Study

A study focused on the sexual behavior of men in public restrooms, raising ethical concerns regarding privacy and informed consent.

Dependent Variable

The variable in a study that is measured and affected by changes in the independent variable.

Conflict Theory

A sociological perspective that emphasizes the role of societal conflict in issues like economic inequality and power dynamics.

Halo Effect

A cognitive bias where the perception of one positive trait influences the perception of other traits, often in evaluations of individuals.

Literature Review

A comprehensive overview of prior research on a topic, assessing the state of knowledge and identifying gaps.

Overgeneralize

To make broad conclusions based on limited or specific instances, which can lead to inaccurate assumptions.

Rik Scarce’s Radical Groups

A study exploring the dynamics of radical political groups, highlighting methods of engagement and belief systems.

Positivism

A philosophical theory emphasizing observable and measurable facts in the understanding of reality, often associated with the natural sciences.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that facilitate problem-solving and decision-making but can also lead to biases.

Theory

A systematic explanation of phenomena, based on established principles and evidence.

Unit of Analysis

The primary entity being studied and analyzed in social research, such as individuals, groups, or organizations.

Terry Williams’ Cocaine Kids

A study examining the lives of children involved in drug use and its socio-economic implications.

Empirical

Based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic, essential for scientific validation.

Informed Consent

Ethical principle that requires participants to be fully aware of a study's purpose, risks, and their rights before agreeing to participate.

Functionalism

A sociological perspective that views society as composed of interrelated parts, each serving a function to maintain stability.

Field Research

Research conducted outside of a laboratory, focusing on collecting data in natural settings for richer context.

Negative Relationship

A correlation where an increase in one variable results in a decrease in another, indicating an inverse association.

Project Camelot

A controversial social science research project that sought to understand and influence social change in developing countries during the Cold War.

Rational Choice Theory

A framework for understanding social and economic behavior based on the assumption that individuals act based on rational calculations to maximize benefits.

Nuremberg Code

A set of ethical research principles established after World War II to guide medical research and ensure participants' rights and welfare.

Antecedent Variable

A variable that precedes and influences the independent variable in research.

Exhaustive Literature Review

A thorough analysis of existing research literature on a topic, ensuring all relevant sources are considered.

Primary Source

Original research or evidence directly related to the subject, such as studies, interviews, or raw data.

Interactionism

A theoretical perspective focusing on social interactions and the meanings individuals derive from them.

Inductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning that involves forming generalizations based on specific observations or cases.

Exclusive Experimental Research

Research design that uses controlled experiments to establish cause-and-effect relationships without external influences.

IRB (Institutional Review Board)

A committee that reviews research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met, particularly concerning participant welfare.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge, its nature, and how it is acquired or validated.

Macro Level Theory

Theories that analyze large-scale social processes and structures, examining broad societal dynamics.

Deductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning from the general to the specific, often used to test hypotheses.

Positive Relationship

A correlation indicating that as one variable increases, the other also increases, showing a direct association.

Quantitative Hypothesis

A testable statement predicting a relationship between variables that can be measured numerically.