Sociology Ch 2
Scientific method
Identify the problem, literature review, hypothesis, research method, collect data, analyze data, conclusion are the steps to the
Basic research
Search for knowledge for its own sake
Participant observation
A methodology associated with ethnography whereby the researcher both observes and becomes a member in a social setting
Survey
A questionnaire administered to a sample of respondents
Sample
A smaller group representative of the larger group
Scientific method
A standard procedure for acquiring and verifying empirical knowledge
Likert scale
A format in which respondents can choose answers along a continuum
Paradigm shift
A major break from existing assumptions
Content analysis
A method in which researchers identify and study specific variables
Negotiating access
Gaining entry to a field setting
Causation
A change in one variable directly produces a change in the another
Negative question
Asking respondents what they don't think
Lack of replicability
Can't repeat the same research
Correlation
Change in one variable seems to lead to a change in the another
Code of ethics
Ethical guidelines that should influence the design of a project
Research methods
Ethnography, interviews, surveys, existing sources, and, experiments are the five
Experimental group
Exposed to the independent variable
DV
Factor that is changed by independent variable
IV
Factor that is predicted to cause change
Degree of representativeness
Findings cannot be applied to other groups
Experiment
Formal tests of specific variables
Control group
Not exposed to the independent variable
Informed consent
Participant has knowledge of the nature of the research and has agreed to participate
Value free sociology
Personal feelings should not influence one's research. Max Weber
Research method
Produces data that will support, disprove, or modify theories about human behavior
Applied research
Putting into action what is learned
Representative sample
Reflects a larger population and therefor findings can be generalized
Reflexivity
The impact of a researcher's presence on the group being observed
Target population
The larger group you want to generalize about
Ethnography
The study of people in their own environments
Reactivity
The ways that people and events respond to being studied
Objectivity
To allow facts to speak for themselves
Comparative/historical methods
To compare elements of society by regions, time periods etc...
Existing sources
To use data already collected and that can be used for social research
Double barreled questions
Type of question researchers must avoid; attempts to tackle too many issues at once
Leading questions
Type of question researchers must avoid; predispose a respondent to respond a certain way
Open ended
Type of question; allows for a variety of response
Closed ended
Type of question; impose a limit on the possible response
Qualitative research
Type of research that works with non-numerical data
Quantitative research
Type of research that works with numerical data and translates social world into numbers
Target population, sample, informed consent
What are the three things that researchers need to do before starting with the interview process
Private organizations and business corporations
What are two examples of nonacademic uses of research methods?
Hawthorne Effect
changes in behavior because of "the effect of being studied"
Interview
gathering info directly from respondent face-to-face information-seeking conversation