2 - Research Methods

Question 1

Social Research

Answer 1

Involves structured enquiry that utilizes acceptable scientific methodology for solving social problems and creating new set of knowledge that is generally applicable

Question 2

Two types of discourse analysis used by sociologists

Answer 2

1. Analysing discourse as the term is commonly understood (i.e conversation, speech)
2. Discourse analysis considers a broader definition of “text”, going beyond individual works and authors to include larger fields

Question 3

Discourse

Answer 3

A conceptual framework with its own internal logic and underlying assumptions that are generally recognisable

Question 4

Field

Answer 4

Comprises all known discourses on a particular cultural concept, such as masculinity

Question 5

Content analysis

Answer 5

Involves studying a set of cultural artifacts, (e.g., newspaper articles, billboards) or events and interpreting the themes they reflect

Question 6

Two distinct properties of content analysis

Answer 6

• They are not created for specifically to be studied
• Data are pre-existing and non-interactive

Question 7

Exploratory research

Answer 7

• Gain a rich, in-depth
  understanding of a generally unknown / little-known topic.
• Examine the relationship between social phenomena (how two things are related)

Question 8

Genealogy

Answer 8

• Method of examining the history of discourse analysis
• Seeks to trace the origins and histories of modern discourses

Question 9

Statistics

Answer 9

• A science that, in sociology, involves the use of numbers to map social behaviour and beliefs
• However, many of the topics that sociologists
  research, (e.g., poverty, abuse, social class) are
  theoretical in nature and thus difficult to define

Question 10

Measure of centre

Answer 10

Way of taking all the data you have gathered on a particular subject and finding the most representative result

Question 11

Median

Answer 11

MIddle number in order

Question 12

Mean

Answer 12

Add all scores and divide by number of scores

Question 13

Operational definitions

Answer 13

Transform abstract or theoretical concepts like “poverty” or “middle class” into concrete, observable, measurable entities.

Question 14

Evaluation Research

Answer 14

• Problem analysis
• Impact evaluation
• Process evaluation
• Cost benefit analysis

Question 15

Research methodology

Answer 15

• The system of methods a researcher uses to gather data on a particular research question
• No consensus on best way of doing research

Question 16

Scientific method

Answer 16

• Identify research question
• Form hypothesis
• Collect data to test hypothesis
• Analyse data
• Conclude

Question 17

Who coined the term sociology

Answer 17

August Comte

Question 18

Positivism

Answer 18

• The belief that the social sciences could be studied using the methods of natural sciences (i.e., experiment, measurement, and systematic observation)
• Assumes the researcher are objective

Question 19

Insider vs outsider

Answer 19

• Outsider viewed as the “expert” who occupies a privileged position over the insider “subjects of study”
• The outside expert ideal would be an example of policy sociology

Question 20

Absolute poverty

Answer 20

• Anything below the minimum income level needed to secure basic necessities
• Measure: Market Basket Measure (MBM)

Question 21

Relative poverty

Answer 21

• Defines poverty relative to median or mean household incomes
• Measure: low-income cut-off (LICO)

Question 22

Quantitative research

Answer 22

Focuses on social elements that can be counted or measured (e.g. surveys, polls)

Question 23

Qualitative research

Answer 23

Close examination of characteristics that cannot be counted or measured (e.g. ethnography)

Question 24

Ethnography

Answer 24

Seeks to uncover the symbols and categories members of the given culture use to interpret their world

Question 25

Institutional ethnography

Answer 25

- Developed by Dorothy Smith - Recognizes that every institution has two sides, each associated with a different kind of data

Question 26

Two sides of every institution

Answer 26

- Ruling interests (interests of the organisation) - Experiential data (come from informants; anyone who works for organisation)

Question 27

Narratives

Answer 27

Stories people tell about themselves, their situations, and others around them

Question 28

Voice

Answer 28

- The expression of a unique viewpoint from a particular social location - Influenced by gender, race, class, etc)

Question 29

Variable

Answer 29

Concept with measurable traits or characteristics that can vary

Question 30

Correlation

Answer 30

- Exists when two variables are associated more frequently than could be expected by chance - Can take on two forms

Question 31

Two forms of correlation

Answer 31

- Direct (or +'ve): occurs when the independant and dependant variables increases or decrease together - Inverse (or -'ve): Occurs when the two variables change in opposing directions

Question 32

Causation

Answer 32

- Linking of effects to causes - Correlation does not equal causation

Question 33

Spurious reasoning

Answer 33

Occurs when someone sees correlation and falsely assumes causation

Question 34

Spurious variable

Answer 34

A third outside factor that influences both correlating variables

Question 35

Research ethics

Answer 35

Entails demonstrating respect for the research subjects (i.e. their privacy)