You May Ask Yourself (Ch. 2)
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25 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Research methods | Approaches that social scientists use for investigating the answers to questions |
| Quantitive methods | Methods that seek to obtain information about the social world that is already in or can be converted to numeric form |
| Qualitative methods | Methods that attempt to collect information about the social world that cannot be readily converted to numeric form |
| Deductive approach | A research approach that starts with a theory, forms a hypothesis, makes empirical observations, and then analyzes the data to confirm, reject, or modify the original theory |
| Inductive approach | A research approach that starts with empirical observations and then works to form a theory |
| Correlation | Simultaneous variation in two variables |
| Association | Simultaneous variation in two variables |
| Causality | The notion that a change in one factor results in a corresponding change in another |
| Reverse causality | A situation in which the researcher believes that X results in a change in Y, but Y, in fact, is causing X |
| Dependent variable | The outcome that the researcher is trying to explain |
| Independent variable | A measured factor that the researcher believes has a causal impact on the dependent variable |
| Hypothesis | A proposed relationship between two variables |
| Operationalization | The process of assigning a precise method for measuring a term being examined for use in a particular study |
| Validity | The extent to which an instrument measures what it is intended to measure |
| Reliability | Likelihood of obtaining consistent results using the same measure |
| Generalizability | The extent to which we can claim our findings inform us about a group larger than the one we studied |
| Reflexivity | Analyzing and critically considering our own role in, and affect on, our research |
| Feminist methodology | A set of systems or methods that treat women's experiences as legitimate empirical and theoretical resources that promote social science for women and that take into account the researcher as much as the overt subject matter |
| Participant observation | A qualitative research method that seeks to observe social actions in practice |
| Survey | An ordered series of questions intended to elicit information from the respondents |
| Historical methods | Research that collects data from written reports, newspaper articles, journals, transcripts, television programs, diaries, artwork, and other artifacts that date to a prior time period under study |
| Comparative research | A methodology by which two or more entities (such as countries), which are similar in many dimensions but differ on one in question, are compared to learn about the dimension that differs between them |
| Experimental methods | methods that 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 |
| Content analysis | A systematic analysis of the content rather than the structure of a communication, such as a written work, speech, or film |
| Public sociology | The practice of sociological research, teaching, and service that weeks to engage in non-academic audience for a normative, productive end |
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