Chapter 2 - Applying Sociological Research Methods Flashcards
What does in mean to say Sociology uses systemic procedures?
The steps taken to do research are organized and methodical. and standardized in such a way that they are recognized by other researchers.
What is the definition of a concept? Give an example.
A concept is used to categorize a part of the social world. One example is to group Canadians based on their income to study them.
What are the eight types of theories? Explain them.
- Macro sociological Theory - asks large-scale questions
- Functionalists - smooth functioning of society
- conflict theorists - conflict of resources
- Microlevel sociological theory - asks questions about “experience and meaning”
- Symbolic Interactionist - meanings people use to construct social life
- Feminist - issues surrounding gender and inequality
- Indigenous Theory - contemporary indigenous experience
- Queer Theories - problematize taken-for-granted concepts
What is the difference between Deductive and Inductive reasoning? Which one do sociologists prefer?
Deductive reasoning - starts with theories and ends with research findings.
Inductive reasoning - opposite of deductive reasoning, it begins with observations and ends with a theory. What sociologists primarily do.
What are the five goals of sociological research?
Explore, Describe, Explain, Critically assess
What is the difference between qualitative and Quantitative Research? Which is a macro or micro approach?
Quantitative research - focused on social elements that can be counted or measured- used by macro sociologists (surveys, polls)
Qualitative research - is the close examination of characteristics that cannot be counted or measured (microsociologists).
Grounded Theory is what?
a systemic strategy for moving from specific observations to general conclusions about discourses, interactions and practices.
What is rigour in research and why do sociologists use triangulation to achieve it?
Rigour is the trustworthiness of the research process and data collected, one way to reach it is triangulation (using multiple data-gathering techniques like surveys and interviews within one study to verify the findings)
What is the Nuremberg Code?
The first set of directives for human experimentation that detailed the importance of obtaining prior consent, protecting participants from harm, and acknowledging subjects’ right to end participation.
What happened in the authority experiment conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s?
In these experiments, participants believed they were giving harmful electric shocks to another participant and were told by the researcher that it was essential they continue. Milgram’s (1963) procedures were highly criticized for making participants undergo unnecessary and unreasonable amounts of psychological harm
What is the tri-council policy statement: Ethical conduct for research involving human research?
The TCPS outlines ethical principles and includes a set of guidelines that regulate research carried out by sociologists as well as researchers from other disciplines.
The underlying value of the TCPS 2 (2018) is respect for human dignity expressed through three main principles:
- Respect for persons -> participants are granted autonomy and must give consent
- Concern for Welfare -> minimize potential for harm
- Justice -> the sense that people are treated fairly and equitably with respect
What are the strengths and limitations of surveys?
Limitations are:
Over saturation of scam calls, can’t verify the accuracy of responses, precise wording can be difficult, reliability and validity
Strengths are:
High response rate, rich and detailed variable-led information, and ability to look for relationships between many variables
What is the difference between standardized and unstandardized interviews?
Standardized means its a structured interview with planned questions that look the same with every interview
Unstandardized is a Freeform interview, much less structured
What is a focus group?
A moderator interviews a small group of people simultaneously. Focus groups are meant to get people’s opinions, not sensitive topic areas that could trigger people because people won’t share.
What are the strengths and limitations of Interviews?
Strengths are:
- can ask probing questions about sensitive topics compared to survey questions.
- Participation in the process
Limitations are:
- must establish rapport that will be sensitive, and they don’t know the topic of the discussion
- Group dynamics
What is Secondary Data Analysis? Name some examples
Analyzes data that comes from someone else (Statistics Canada, diaries, letters, novels, websites, graffiti on walls)
What is content analysis?
systematically analyzes messages in texts or images
What are the strengths and limitations of Secondary data analysis?
Strengths are:
⁃ large data sets
⁃ Convenient
⁃ Unobtrusive (not bugging anybody)
Limitations are:
⁃ data was collected for a different purpose then your research
⁃ Data may be biased or incomplete
What is action research in ethnography work?
pursues change while studying a social system (how can I increase student participation? And teaching a class).
What is the difference between systematic vs participant observation in ethnographies?
In asystematic observation, a researcher directly observes a social group or process but does not interact with the participants (this is also sometimes called “nonparticipation observation”). Both qualitative and quantitative researchers use observational research and can take place anywhere a group of interest is located.
Inparticipant observation, a researcher collects systematic observations while participating in the group’s activities. Some groups and activities are not particularly amenable to investigation by outsiders.
What are the strengths and limitations of ethnographies?
Strengths are:
⁃ in a natural setting
⁃ rich, detailed information
Limitations are:
⁃ Bias
⁃ Reactivity
⁃ Accessing and exiting research settings
What is the difference between convergence vs single-case design?
Asingle-case design“refers to case study research that focuses on only one person, organization, event or program as the unit of analysis as emphasized by the research objectives” while convergent design, qualitative and quantitative methods are employed in the same phase of the study so that the researchers can compare different perspectives when assessing the overall findings.
