Chapter 2 Studying Social Life: Sociological Research Methods
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Quantitative Research
answer
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.
question
Qualitative Research
answer
Research that works with non numerical 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.
question
Scientific Method
answer
A procedure for acquiring knowledge that emphasizes collecting concrete data through observation and experimentation.
question
Literature Review
answer
a thorough search through previously published studies relevant to a particular group.
question
Hypothesis
answer
A theoretical statement explaining the relationship of two or more phenomena
question
Variables
answer
two or more phenomena that researcher believes related; these will be examined in the experiment.
question
Operational Definition
answer
A clear and precise definition of a variable that facilitates its measurements.
question
Correlation
answer
A relationship between variables in which they change together and may or may not be casual.
question
Causation
answer
A relationship between variables in which a change in one directly produces the change in the other.
question
Intervening Variable
answer
a third variable , sometimes overlooked, that explains the relationship between two other variables.
question
Spurious Correlation
answer
the appearance of causation produced by an intervening variable.
question
Paradigm Shift
answer
a major change in basic assumptions of a particular scientific discipline.
question
Ethnography
answer
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. Advantages: (1) Study groups that are often overlooked by other methods, (2) Challenge our taken for granted notions about a group we thought we knew, (3) Reshape our stereotypes we hold about others. Disadvantages: (1) Lack of replicability. (2) Lack of representativeness. (3) Respondents are not always forthcoming or truthful.
question
Participant Observation
answer
A methodology associated with ethnography whereby the researcher both observes and becomes a member in a social setting.
question
Access
answer
The process by which an ethnographer gains entry to a field setting.
question
Rapport
answer
a positive relationship often characterized by mutual trust or sympathy
question
Field Notes
answer
detailed notes taken by an ethnographer describing her activities and interactions, which later become the basis of the analysis.
question
Autoethnography
answer
a form of participant observation where the feelings and actions of the researcher become a focal point of the ethnographic study.
question
Thick Description
answer
the presentation of detailed data on interactions and meaning within a cultural context, from the perspective of its members.
question
Reflexibility
answer
How the identity and activities of the researcher influence what is going on in the field setting.
question
Grounded Theory
answer
An inductive method of generating theory from data by creating categories in which to place data and looking for relationships among categories.
question
Replicability
answer
Research that can be repeated , and thus verified by other researcher later.
question
Validity
answer
the accuracy of the question or measurement tool ; the degree to which a researcher is measuring what he thinks he is measuring.
question
Representatives
answer
the degree to which a particular studied group is similar to, or represents, any part of the larger society.
question
Bias
answer
an opinion held by the researcher that might affect the research or analysis.
question
Interviews
answer
person-to-person conversation for the purpose of gathering information by means of questions posed to respondents. Advantages: Allow respondents to speak in their own words. Dispel certain preconceptions. Discover issues that might otherwise been overlooked. Disadvantages: Lack of Representatives, interview of respondents are not always true,
question
Respondent
answer
a participant in a study from whom the researcher seeks to gather information.
question
Target Population
answer
the entire group about which a researcher would like to be able to generalize.
question
Sample
answer
the members of the target population who will actually be studied.
question
Focus Group
answer
a process for interviewing a number of participants together , it also allows for interaction among group members.
question
Informed Consent
answer
a safeguard through which the researcher makes sure the respondents are freely participating and understand the nature of the research.
question
Closed-Ended Question
answer
a question asked of a respondent that imposes a limit on the possible responses.
question
Open-Ended Question
answer
a question asked of a respondent that allows the answer to take whatever form the respondent chooses.
question
Leading Questions
answer
questions that predispose a respondent to answer in a certain way.
question
Double-Barreled Questions
answer
questions that attempt to get multiple issues at once, and tend to receive incomplete or confusing answers
question
Life History
answer
an approach to interviewing that asks for chronological account of the respondent's entire life, or some portion of it.
question
Surveys
answer
research method based on questionnaires that are administered to a sample of respondents selected from a target population.
question
Action Research
answer
a type of research aimed to creating social change, in which the researcher works closely with members of a community who participate in the research process and collaboration
question
Likert Scale
answer
a way of formatting a survey questionnaire so that the respondent can choose an answer along a continuum.
question
Negative Questions
answer
Survey questions that ask respondents what they don't think instead of what they do.
question
Pilot Study
answer
A small-scale study carried out to test the feasibility of a larger one.
question
Probability Sampling
answer
a procedure that results in a sample group that reflects the characteristics of members in the target population
question
Simple Random Sample
answer
a particular type of probability sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.
question
Representatives Sample
answer
a sample taken so that findings from members of sample group can be generalized to the larger population; also referred to as stratified sample.
question
Response Rate
answer
the number of percentage of surveys completed by respondents and returned to researchers
question
Reliability
answer
the consistency of a question or measurement tool; the degree to which the same questions will produce similar answers.
question
Existing Sources
answer
materials that have been produced for some other reason but that can be used as data for social research. Advantages: (1) Work with info. researchers could not possibly obtain for themselves. Disadvantages: (1) Answers to questions that original authors did not have in mind. (2) Does not illuminate original sources.
question
Unobtrusive Measures
answer
research methods that rely on existing sources and where the researcher does not intrude upon or disturb the social setting or its subjects.
question
Comparative Historical Reasearch
answer
research that uses existing sources to study relationships among elements of society in various regions and time periods.
question
Content Analysis
answer
a method in which researchers identify and study specific variables or themes that appear in a text, image or media message.
question
Experiments
answer
formal tests of specific variables and effects , performed in a setting where all aspects of the situation can be controlled. Advantages: (1) Manipulate and control social environment researchers to minimize outside interference. (2) High replicability. Disadvantages: (1) Applicable only to certain types of research that can be constructed and measured in a controlled setting. (2) Not very effective for describing more complex processes and interactions.
question
Experimental Group
answer
members of a test group who receive experimental treatment.
question
Control Group
answer
members of a test group who are allowed to continue without intervention so that they can be compared with the experimental group
question
Independent Variable
answer
the factor that is predicted to cause change
question
Dependent Variable
answer
factor that is changed or not by the independent variable.
question
Value-Free Sociology
answer
an ideal whereby researchers identify facts without allowing their own personal beliefs or biases to interfere.
question
Basic Research
answer
the search for knowledge without an agenda or practical goal in mind.
question
Applied Research
answer
gathering knowledge that can be used to create social change.
question
Objectivity
answer
impartiality, the ability to allow the facts to speak for themselves.
question
Reactivity
answer
the tendency of people and and events to react to the process of being studied.
question
Hawthorne Effect
answer
a specific example of reactivity, in which the desired effect is the result not of the independent variable but of the research itself.
question
Deception
answer
the extent to which the participants in a research project are unaware of the project of its goals.
question
Confidentiality
answer
the assurance that no one other than the researcher will know the identity of a respondent.
question
Code of Ethics
answer
ethical guidelines for researchers to consult as they design a project
question
Institutional Review Board
answer
a group of scholars within a university who meet regularly to review and approve the research proposals of their colleagues and make recommendation for how to protect human subjects.
