Chapter 2: Social Research Methods

Question 1

What is: The system of methods a researcher uses to gather data on a particular question?

Answer 1

Research Methodology

Question 2

Sociology is a _____ _____, and it must be held to scientific standards of evidence, or it loses credibility.

Answer 2

Social science

Question 3

What is the Scientific Method?

Answer 3

A series of steps leading to proof.

Question 4

What are the steps in the scientific method?

Answer 4

1. Identify question of interest
2. Gather Information and form hypothesis
3. Test Hypothesis by conducting research
4. Analyze, Interpret, and Report data
5. Build knowledge body

Question 5

Who was known for Positivism?

Answer 5

Auguste Comte

Question 6

What is Positivism?

Answer 6

Objective, scientific methods used to study the natural sciences could be used to study the social sciences. Positivism is based on experiment, quantitative measurements, and systematic observations all based on sensory experiences.

Question 7

What is the basic assumption built into positivism?

Answer 7

Researchers do NOT have a bias.

Question 8

In Comte’s view, what was the outside perspective?

Answer 8

The “experts” that occupied a privileged position over the subject of study.

Question 9

What does the insider perspective provide?

Answer 9

The insider voice of the subject being studied provides information that comes from their subjective experiences.

Question 10

Which two sociologist argued FOR the insider perspective?

Answer 10

Dorothy Smith and Michel Foucault

Question 11

This research method describes and explains the behaviour, values, beliefs, and practises of participants in a given cultural setting.

Answer 11

Qualitative Research

Question 12

What is Fieldwork?

Answer 12

A way to study groups. Fieldwork allows a “naturalistic” feel and you become a member.

Question 13

What is Participation Observation?

Answer 13

Entails both observing and participating in various activities in the studied group’s lives.

Question 14

Define Enthography

Answer 14

The scientific description of individual peoples and cultures.

Question 15

This type of Ethnography is based on the theories of Dorothy Smith.

Answer 15

Institutional Ethnography

Question 16

What is Institutional Ethnogrpahy?

Answer 16

recognizing that any organization can be seen as having 2 sides, each associated with a different kind of data.

• One side represents the RULING INTERESTS: interests of the organization/ those who hold power in society.
• the other side are people who follow and practise the rules of the institutions, RULING RELATIONS.

Question 17

what is experiential data and who does it come from?

Answer 17

data that comes from anyone who works for the organization, outside of management.

Question 18

What is the Case Study Approach?

Answer 18

Often used to investigate or compare situations that are considered either really typical or very different from the norm. This approach is a key tool in policy sociology.

Question 19

What are Narratives?

Answer 19

the stories people tell about themselves, their situation, and others around them.

Question 20

What does narrative research do?

Answer 20

It gives a voice (viewpoint) to people who do not usually get to speak directly in research.

Question 21

_____ _____ involves studying a set of cultural artifacts or events and interpreting the themes they reflect.

Answer 21

Content Analysis

Question 22

What is Discourse Analysis

Answer 22

An approach to analyzing conversation, speech, text, and symbolic events.

Question 23

What is Quantitative Research?

Answer 23

Social elements that can be counted or measured; and therefore, used to generate statistics

Question 24

Define Statistics

Answer 24

The use of numbers, we use to map social behaviour and beliefs.

Question 25

Define Operational Definitions

Answer 25

Take abstract or theoretical concepts and transform them into concrete, observable, and measurable entities.

Question 26

What are Research Ethics?

Answer 26

1. Voluntary Participation
2. Informed Consent
3. Anonymity and Confidentiality
4. No unnecessary harm to participants.