Chapter 2: Methods of Studying Sociology

Question 1

concept

Answer 1

an abstract system of meaning that enables us to perceive a phenomenon in a particular way. They are tools that permit us to share meanings

Question 2

variable

Answer 2

A characteristic such as age, class or income that can vary from person to person; a concept that can have two or more values

Question 3

operational definition

Answer 3

A definition of a concept or variable such that it can be measured.
Ex: deciding what criteria defines “happiness”

Question 4

A statement of the relationship between two or more concepts or variables

Answer 4

Propisition

Question 5

A statement about the relationship between variables that can be put to an empirical test

Answer 5

Hypothesis

Question 6

Methodology

Answer 6

The rules and guidelines outlined and followed in social research

Question 7

observational research

Answer 7

Research in which the researcher watches what is happening and makes no attempt to control or modify the activity being observed.

Question 8

Ethnographic research

Answer 8

A form of descriptive research focusing on the sociology of meaning through close observation of socio-cultural phenomena

Question 9

survey research

Answer 9

A quantitative research technique that involves asking people questions about the subject being studied

Question 10

secondary analysis

Answer 10

the use of existing information that was gathered or exists independently of one’s own research

Question 11

experimental design

Answer 11

A scientific procedure in which at least two matched groups, differing only in the variable being studied, are used to collect and compare data. Used to determine cause and effect.

Question 12

experimental group

Answer 12

In an experiment, the group to which an independent variable is introduced, with that variable not being introduced to the control group

Question 13

Control group

Answer 13

In an experiment, the group not exposed to the independent variable that is introduced to the experimental group

Question 14

Reliability

Answer 14

the extent to which repeated observations of the same phenomena yield similar results
Ex: Berlin Wall reactions = not repeatable = unreliable

Question 15

Validity

Answer 15

The extent to which observations actually measure what they are supposed to.
Ex: scale can be reliable (give same weight every time) but still give an inaccurate weight, being invalid

Question 16

Sample

Answer 16

A number of individuals or cases drawn from a larger population

Question 17

A sample selected in such a way that every member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen

Answer 17

Random Sample

Question 18

Systematic sampling

Answer 18

Obtaining a sample from a population by following a specific pattern of selection such as choosing every 10th person

Question 19

Stratified sampling

Answer 19

Sampling in which a population is divided into groups and then subjects are chosen at random from within those groups

Question 20

Content analysis

Answer 20

The procedure of systematically extracting thematic data from a wide range of communications

Question 21

Exploratory research

Answer 21

Research that attempts to answer the question “what” by explaining a new social phenomenon

Question 22

Descriptive research

Answer 22

Research that describes social reality or provides facts about the social world

Question 23

Explanatory research

Answer 23

Research that attempts to explain why things do or do not happen by examining the relationship between social variables

Question 24

Evaluative research

Answer 24

Research that measures how well a program or project works in relation to its goals

Question 25

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

Answer 25

Committees on college/university campuses and in research organizations that provide oversight of research that is conducted on human subjects