Chapter 2

Question 1

Research methodology

Answer 1

System of methods a researcher uses to gather data on a particular research question. Contested field in sociology

Question 2

Scientific method

Answer 2

Series of steps leading to proof. The steps are:
1. Observation
2. Identify a research question
3. Conduct background research
4. Formulate a hypothesis
5. Select a research design
6. Gather data
7. Analyze dat a
8. Revise hypothesis or present results

Question 3

August Comte

Answer 3

Coined the term sociology and Comte’s sociology was rooted in positivism

Question 4

Positivism

Answer 4

Belief that the social sciences could be studied using the methods of natural sciences

Question 5

Outsider

Answer 5

“Expert” who occupies a privileged position over the insider “subjects or study”

Question 6

Insider voice

Answer 6

Insider voice of subject being studied provides information that comes from there subjective experiences

Question 7

Objective outsider

Answer 7

Experts use there privileged to decide over authenticity of the insider perspective, this is where vital information gets lost

Question 8

Quantitative research

Answer 8

Focuses on social elements that can be counted or measured, which can therefore be used to generate statistics (macro sociologist approach)

Question 9

Qualitative research

Answer 9

Is the close examination of characteristics that cannot be counted or measured (microsociology approach)

Question 10

Triangulation / mixed method approach

Answer 10

Qualitative and quantitative

Question 11

Qualitative methods include: (7)

Answer 11

1. Ethnography
2. Institutional ethnography
3. Case study approach
4. Narratives
5. Content analysis
6. Discourse analysis
7. Genealogy

Question 12

Ethnography

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Participant observation

Answer 13

Observing people and actively participating in their activities to obtain an insiders perspective

Question 14

Semi-structured interviews

Answer 14

Informal, face-to-face interviews

Question 15

Informants

Answer 15

Insiders who help researcher becoming accepted by community

Question 16

Institutional ethnography

Answer 16

Developed by Dorothy Smith, recognizes every institution has two sides associated with:
1. Ruling interests
2. Experiential data

Question 17

Ruling interests

Answer 17

Interests of organization / administration and the interests of those who hold power in society
- ruling relations

Question 18

Experiential data

Answer 18

Come from informants: anyone who works for organization, outside of management

Question 19

Case studies

Answer 19

Research design that takes as its subject a single case or a few selected examples of a social entity such as:
- community
- family
- roles
- relationship

Question 20

Best practices

Answer 20

Case study used for this. Strategies with a proven history of achieving desired results

Question 21

Narratives

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Content analysis

Answer 22

Involves studying a set of cultural artifacts or events and interpreting the themes they reflect
Two distinct properties:
1. They are not created for specifically to be studied
2. Data are pre-existing and non-interactive

Question 23

Discourse analysis (2 types)

Answer 23

1. Analyzing discourse as the term is commonly understood
2. Discourse analysis considers a broader definition of “text” going beyond individual works and authors in include larger fields

Question 24

Discourse

Answer 24

Conceptual framework with own internal logic

Question 25

Field

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Genealogy

Answer 26

Method of examining history of the second type of discourse

Question 27

Absolute poverty

Answer 27

Anything below minimum income level needed for basic necessities

Question 28

Relative poverty

Answer 28

Defines poverty relative to median or mean household incomes

Question 29

Research ethics

Answer 29

Entails demonstrating respect for the research subjects

Question 30

Informed consent

Answer 30

Given when participants indicate their understanding to conditions