soc quiz 4

Axial coding

a second coding of qualitative data after open coding. The researcher organizes the codes, develops links among them, and discovers key analytic categories

Level of statistical significance

a set of numbers researchers use as a simple way to measure the degree to which a statistical relationship results form random factors rather than the existence of a true relationship among variable

odds ratio

way of reporting a regression, standard by which everything is measured against, odds of something happenning, nominal variables need these

population

what you generalize to

Paraphrasing

when a write restates or rewords the ideas of another person, giving proper credit to the original source

Scattergram

a diagram to display the statistical relationship between two variables based on plotting each case's values for both of the variables

Pie chart

a display of numerical information on one variable that divides a circle into fractions by lines representing the proportion of cases in the variable's attributes

Marginals

the totals in a contingency table, outside the body of a table

Control variable

a "third" variable that shows whether a bivariate relationship holds up to alternative explanations. It can occur before or between other variables

Principle investigator

PI the person who is primarily in charge of research on a project that is sponsored or funded by an organization

Normal distribution

a "bell-shaped" frequency polygon for a distribution of cases, with a peak in the center and identical curving slopes on either side of the center. It is the distribution of many naturally occurring phenomena and is a basis of much statistical theory

Bar chart

a display of quantitative data for one variable in the form of rectangles where longer rectangles indicate more cases in a variable category. Usually, it is used with discrete data and there is a small space between rectangles. They can have a horizontal or vertical orientation. Also called bar graphs.

Skewed distribution

a distribution of cases among the categories of a variable that is not normal (i.e., not a bell shape). Instead of an equal number of cases on both ends, more are at one of the extremes

Codebook

a document that describes the procedure for coding variable and their location in a format for computers

Open coding

a first coding of qualitative data in which a researcher examines the data to condense them into preliminary analytic categories or code for analyzing the data

Descriptive statistics

a general type of simple statistics used by researchers to describe basic patterns in the data

Frequency polygon

a graph of connected points showing the distribution of how many cases fall into each category of a variable

Selective coding

a last pass at coding qualitative data in which a researcher examines previous codes to identify and select illustrative data that will support the conceptual coding categories that he or she developed

Median

a measure of central tendency for one variable indicating the point or score at which half the cases are higher and half are lower

Mean

a measure of central tendency for one variable that indicates the arithmetic average (i.e., the sum of all scores divided by the total number of scores)

Mode

a measure of central tendency for one variable that indicates the most frequent or common score

Range

a measure of dispersion for one variable indicating the highest and lowest scores

Standard deviation

a measure of dispersion for one variable that indicates an average distance between the scores and the mean

Percentile

a measure of dispersion for one variable that indicates the percentage of cases at or below a score or point

Direct entry method

a method of entering data into a computer by typing data without code or optical scan sheets

Illustrative method

a method of qualitative data analysis in which a researcher takes the concepts of a social theory or explanation and treats them as empty boxes to be filled with empirical examples and descriptions

Successive approximation

a method of qualitative data analysis in which the researcher repeatedly moves back and forth between the empirical data and the abstract concepts, theories, or models

Error of segregation

a mistake that can occur when writing qualitative research in which a writer separates concrete empirical details from abstract ideas too much

Empty boxes

a name for conceptual categories in an explanation that a researcher uses as part of the illustrative method of qualitative data analysis

Cell of a table

a part of the body of a table. In a contingency table, it shows the distribution of cases into categories of variables as a specific number or percentage

Suppressor variable patten

a pattern in the elaboration paradigm in which no relationship appears in a bivariate contingency table, but the partials show a relationship between the variables

Interpretation pattern

a pattern in the elaboration paradigm in which the bivariate contingency table shows a relationship, but the partials show no relationship and the control variable is intervening in the causal explanation

Explanation pattern

a pattern in the elaboration paradigm in which the bivariate contingency table shows a relationship, but the partials show no relationship and the control variable occurs prior to the independent variable

Specification pattern

a pattern in the elaboration paradigm in which the bivariate contingency table shows a relationship. One of the partial tables show the relationship, but other tables do not

Replication pattern

a pattern in the elaboration paradigm in which the partials show the same relationship as in a bivariate contingency table of the independent and dependent variable alone

Curvilinear relationship

a relationship between two variables such that as the values of one variable increase, the values of the second show a changing pattern (e.g., first decrease then increase then decrease). It is not a linear relationship.

Revising

a step I the writing process that is part of rewriting in which a writer adds ideas or evidence, and deletes, rearranges, or changes ideas to improve clarity and better communicate meaning

Rewriting

a step in the writing process in which the writer goes over a previous draft to improve communication of ideas and clarity of expression

Editing

a step in the writing process that is part of rewriting, in which a writer cleans up and tightens the language and checks grammar, verb agreement, usage, sentence length, and paragraph organization to improve communication

Executive summary

a summary of a research project's findings placed at the beginning of a report for an applied, nonspecialist audience. Usually a little longer than an abstract.

Elaboration paradigm

a system for describing patterns evident among tables when a bivariate contingency table is compared with partials after the control variable has been added

Contingency table

a table that shows the cross-tabulation of two or more variables. It usually shows bivariate quantitative data for variables in the form of percentages across rows or down columns for the categories of one variable

Frequency distribution

a table that shows the distribution of cases into the categories of one variable (i.e., the number or percent of cases in each category)

Plagiarism

a type of unethical behavior in which one uses the writing or ideas of another without giving proper credit. It is "stealing ideas"

Narrative history

a type of writing about a historical setting in which the writer attempts to "tell a story" by following chronological order, describing particular people and events, and focusing on many colorful details

Prewriting

a very early step in the writing process, when one write without worrying about word choice, spelling, or grammar, but tries to let "idea flow" as quickly as possible to connect thinking processes with writing

Statistical significance

a way to discuss the likelihood that a finding or statistical relationship in a sample is due to the random factors rather than due to the existence of an actual relationship in the entire population

Z-score

a way to locate a score in a distribution of scores by determining the number of standard deviations it is above or below the mean or arithmetic average

Request for proposal (RFPs)

an announcement by a funding organization that it is willing to fund research and it is soliciting written place of research projects

Linear relationship

an association between two variables that is positive or negative across the attributes or levels of the variables. When plotted in a scattergram, the basic pattern of the association forms a straight line, not a curve or other pattern

Zoom lens

an organizational form often used by field researchers when writing reports that begin broadly then become narrow, focused, and specific

Contingency cleaning

cleaning data using a computer in which the researcher looks at the combination of categories for two variables for logically impossible cases

Possible code cleaning

cleaning data using a computer in which the researcher looks for responses or answer categories that cannot have cases

lexicon equivalence

comparing idfferent cultures, using different words to compare with works they used then

conceptual equivalence

concept over time, across groups, concepts change

measurement equivalence

how do you measure something over time with out the same numbers...

Partials

in contingency tables for three variables, tables that show the association between the independent and dependent variables for each category of a control group

sampling frame

list form which you take sample

Code sheets

paper with a printed grid on which a researcher records information so that it can be easily entered into a computer. It is an alternative to direct-entry method and using optical-scan sheets

hawthorne effect

people know theyre being studied so they alter behavior

Cross-tabulation

placing data for two-variables in a contingency table to show the number or percentage of cases at the intersection of categories of the two variables

contextual equivalence

some things exist in different context

Univariate statistics

statistical measures that deal with one variable only

Bivariate statistics

statistical measures that involve two variable only

Independence

the absence of a statistical relationship between two variables (i.e., when knowing the values on one variable provides no information about the values that will be found on another variable). There is no association between them .

Body of a table

the center part of a contingency table. It contains all the cells, but not the totals or labels

Covariation

the idea that two variables vary together, such that knowing the values in one variable provides information about values found in another variable

Type II error

the logical error of falsely accepting the null hypothesis

Type I Error

the logical error of falsely rejecting the null hypothesis

Grantsmanship

the strategies and skills of locating appropriate funding sources and preparing high-quality proposals for research funding