Ch.2 Sociological Research

Question 1

Why is Sociological Research Necessary?

Answer 1

To better understand influential factors in people’s everyday lives. (to understand society)

Question 2

Five ways of Knowing the World.

Answer 2

1. Personal Experience
2. Tradition
3. Authority
4. Religion
5. Science

Question 3

Empirical

Answer 3

Obtaining knowledge by direct, systematic observation.

Question 4

Normative Approach

Answer 4

Uses religion, tradition, or authority to answer questions.

Question 5

Scientific Knowledge

Answer 5

systematic and public

Question 6

Hypothesis

Answer 6

statement of the relationship between two or more variables.

Question 7

Self-correction

Answer 7

Creating a hypothesis and then testing it.

Question 8

Objective

Answer 8

personal biases and values should not affect the outcome of research.

Question 9

Exploratory Research

Answer 9

helps us understand more of an area that is not well established.

Question 10

Descriptive research

Answer 10

describes social reality - what, where, when, etc.

Question 11

Explanatory research

Answer 11

attempts to explain relationships and provide information on why certain events do or do not occur.

Question 12

Evaluation research

Answer 12

assess the need for, or effectiveness of a social program (needs assessment).

Question 13

Empowerment research

Answer 13

goal is to improve conditions of a particular group or social setting.

Question 14

Theory

Answer 14

a (set of logically interrelated statements) that attempts to describe, explain, and occasionally predict social events.

Question 15

Research

Answer 15

the process of systematically collecting information for the purposes of testing an existing theory or generating a new one.

Question 16

Common Goal in the theory and research cycle.

Answer 16

To examine all levels of social life.

Question 17

Deductive Research

Answer 17

(Start with theory and then test it)
- Uses theories, hypotheses, observations, and generalizations.

Question 18

Inductive Research

Answer 18

Start with observations and then generate theory from the analysis of those data.

Question 19

Quantitative Research

Answer 19

Formulate hypothesis - statement of relationship between two or more variables.

Question 20

Independent variable

Answer 20

presumed to cause or determine a dependent variable.

Question 21

Dependent variable

Answer 21

assumed to depend on or be caused by the independent variable(s)

Question 22

Operational Definition: (Operationalization)

Answer 22

Taking an abstract concept in terms of observable features that are specific enough to measure a variable.

Question 23

Key issues of Quantitative Research

Answer 23

Reliability, Validity, and Replication.

Question 24

Reliability

Answer 24

The extent to which a study or research instrument/method yields consistent results.

Question 25

Validity

Answer 25

The extent to which a study or research instrument/method accurately measures what it is supposed to measure.

Question 26

Replicability

Answer 26

The repetition of the investigation in substantially the same way that it was originally conducted.

Question 27

Qualitative Research Model

Answer 27

detailed research method, challenging to replicate.

Question 28

Research Methods for Qualitative Research

Answer 28

1. Experiments
2. Surveys
3. Secondary Analysis of Existing Data
4. Field Research
5. Feminist Research Methods

Question 29

Experimental Group

Answer 29

Contains the subjects who are exposed to the independent variable.

Question 30

Control Group

Answer 30

Contains the subjects who are not exposed to anything.