Chapter 1

Question 1

Action research

Answer 1

A type of applied social research in which a researcher treats knwoledge as a form of power and abolished the division between creating knowledge and using knowledge to engage in political action.

Question 2

Applied social research

Answer 2

Research that attempts to solve a concrete provlem or address a specific policy question and that has a direct, practical applicationB

Question 3

Basic social research

Answer 3

research designed to advance fundamental kmowledge about the social world.

Question 4

Case study

Answer 4

Research, usually qualitative, on one or a small number of cases in which a researcher carefully examines a large number of details about each case.

Question 5

Cohort study

Answer 5

A type of longitudinal research in which a researcher focuses on a category of people who share a similar life experience in a specified time period

Question 6

Content analysis

Answer 6

Research in which one examines patterns of symbolic meaning within written text, audio, visual, or other communication medium

Question 7

Cross-sectional research

Answer 7

Research in which a researcher examines a single point in time or takes a one-time snapshot approach

Question 8

Data

Answer 8

The empirical evidence or information that a person gathers carefully according to established rules or procedures; it can be qualitative or quantitative

Question 9

Descriptive research

Answer 9

Research in which one “paints a picture” with words or numbers, presents a profile, outlines stages, or classifies types.

Question 10

Empirical evidence

Answer 10

The observations that people experience through their senses - touch, sights, hearing, smell, and taste; these can be direct or indirect

Question 11

Evaluation research

Answer 11

A type of applied research in which one tries to determine how well a program or policy is working or reaching its goals and objectives

Question 12

Exisiting statistics research

Answer 12

Research in which one examines numerical information from government documents or offical reports to address new research questions.

Question 13

Experimental research

Answer 13

Research in which one intervenes or does something to one group of people but not to another, then compares results for the two groups.

Question 14

Explanatory research

Answer 14

Research that focuses on why events occur or tries to test and build social theory

Question 15

Exploratory research

Answer 15

research into an area that has not been studied and in which a researcher wants to develop inital ideas and a more focused research question

Question 16

Field research

Answer 16

A type of qualitative research in which a researcher directly observes the people being studied in a natural setting for an extended period. Often, the researcher combines intense observing with participation in the people’s social activities.

Question 17

Halo effect

Answer 17

An error often made when people use personal experience as an alternative to science for acquiring knowledge. It is when a person overgeneralizes from what he or she accepts as being highly positive or prestigious and lets its strong reputation or prestige “rub off” onto other areas

Question 18

Historical-comparative research

Answer 18

Research in which one examines different cultures or periods to better understand the social world

Question 19

Longitudinal research

Answer 19

Research in which the researcher examines the feutrues of people or other units at multiple points in time

Question 20

Overgeneralization

Answer 20

An error that people often make when using personal experience as an alternative to science for acquiring knowledge. It occurs when some evidence supports a belief, but a person falsely assumes that it applies to many other situations, too.

Question 21

Panel study

Answer 21

A powerful type of longitudinal research in which a researcher observes exactly the same people, group, or organizations across multiple time points.

Question 22

Premature closure

Answer 22

An error that is often made when using personal experience as an alternative to science for acquiring knowledge. It occurs when a person feels he or she has the answer and oes not need to listen, seek information, or raise questions any longer.

Question 23

Qualitative data

Answer 23

Information in the form of words, pictures, sounds, visual images, or objects

Question 24

Quantitative data

Answer 24

Information in the form of numbers