chapter 1

Flashcards on Social Research Methods and Ethics

Overgeneralization

Drawing conclusions from limited personal experiences leading to potentially inaccurate assumptions.

Selective (inaccurate) observation

Making observations based on pre-existing beliefs, often overlooking contradictory information.

Illogical Reasoning

Using assumptions that may not be logical, leading to incorrect conclusions.

Resistance to Change

Being unwilling to change beliefs despite new facts or evidence.

Research Study

An organized, planned process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our understanding of something.

Descriptive research

Research in which social phenomena are defined and described.

Exploratory research

Research that explores questions that have not previously been studied in depth, often used when the issue is new or data collection is challenging.

Explanatory research

Research that seeks to identify causes and effects of social phenomena and to predict how one phenomenon will change in response to another.

Evaluation research

Research that describes or identifies the impact of social policies and programs.

Primary Data

Data collected directly by the researcher.

Secondary Data

Existing data that was originally collected by other researchers.

Quantitative Data

Numerical data that is analyzed using statistical methods to identify patterns and relationships.

Qualitative Data

Non-numerical data, such as text, images, and audio recordings, that provides rich descriptions and insights into social phenomena.

Methodology

A detailed plan outlining the data collection and analysis strategy to be used in a research study.

Quantitative approaches

A research approach that aims to measure the prevalence of issues, verify hypotheses, and establish causal relations using numerical data and statistical analysis.

Qualitative approaches

A research approach that explores themes, develops theories, and understands meanings through non-numerical data such as interviews and observations.

Mixed Methods

Combines quantitative and qualitative methods to collect and analyze data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

Measurement validity

The extent to which an indicator accurately measures the concept it is intended to measure.

Generalizability

The extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to other groups or settings.

Causal validity

The accuracy of concluding that one variable causes another.

Informed Consent

Requires researchers to inform participants about the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits, and to obtain their voluntary consent to participate.

Confidentiality

Protecting the privacy of research participants by minimizing personally identifying information and restricting access to data.

IRB - Institutional Review Board

A committee that reviews research proposals involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards are met.