Sociology quiz 2

Grounded theory

An inductive method of generating theory from data by creating categories in which to place data and then looking for relationships among categories.

Reflexivity

How the identity and activities of the researcher influence what is going on in the field setting.

Quantitative research

Research that translates the social world into numbers that can be treated mathematically.

Qualitative research

Research that works with nonnumerical data such as texts, field notes, interview transcripts, photographs and tape recordings.

Ethnography

A naturalistic method based on studying people in their own environment in order to understand the meanings they attribute to their activities; also written work that results from the study.

Rapport

A positive relationship often characterized by mutual trust or sympathy.

Scientific method

A procedure for acquiring knowledge that emphasizes collecting concrete data through observation and experimentation.

Social network analysis

A tool for measuring and visualizing the structure social relationships between two or more people.

Paradigm shift

A major change in basic assumptions of a particular scientific discipline.

Participant observation

A method associated with ethnography whereby the researcher both observes and become a member in a social setting.

Autoethnogaphy

A form of participant observation where the feelings and actions of the researcher become a focal point of the ethnographic study.

Spurious correlation

The appearance of causation produced by an intervening variable.

Reliability

The consistency of a question or measurement tool. The degree to which the same question will produce similar answers.

The scientific approach

The standard procedure for acquiring and verifying empirical knowledge.