Chapter 2: The Process and Problems of Social Research

Question 1

Social research question

Answer 1

A question about the social world that is answered through the collection and analysis of firsthand, verifiable, empiracal data

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

A logically interrelated set of propositions about empirical reality

Question 3

Inductive research

Answer 3

The type of research in which general conclusions are drawn from specific data

Question 4

Deductive research

Answer 4

The type of research in which a specific expectation is deduced from a general premise and is then tested

Question 5

Research circle

Answer 5

A diagram of the elements of the research process, including theories, hypotheses, data collection, and data analysis

Question 6

Hypothesis

Answer 6

A tentative statement about empirical reality involving a relationship between two or more variables

Example: The higher the poverty rate in a community,t he higher the percentage of community residents who are homeless

Question 7

Variable

Answer 7

A characteristic or prperty that can vary (take on different values or attributes).

Example: poverty rate, percentage of community residents who are homeless

Question 8

Dependent variable

Answer 8

A variable that is hypthothesized to vary depending on or under the influence of another variable.

Example: percentage of community residents who are homeless

Question 9

Independent variable

Answer 9

A variable that is hypothesized to cause, or lead to, variation in another variable

Example: poverty rate

Question 10

Direction of association

Answer 10

A pattern in a relationship between two variables - that is, the value of a variable tends to change consistently in relation to change in the other variable. The direction of association can be either positive or negative.

Question 11

Inductive reasoning

Answer 11

The type of reasoning that moves from the specific to the general

Question 12

Anomalous

Answer 12

Unexpected patterns in data that do not seem to fit the theory being proposed

Question 13

Serendipitous

Answer 13

Unexpected patterns ind ata, which stimulate new ideas or theoritical approaches

Question 14

Cross-sectional research design

Answer 14

A study in which data are collected at only one point in time

Question 15

Longitudinal research design

Answer 15

A study in which data are collected that can be ordered int ime; also defined as research in which data are collected at two or more points in time

Question 16

Individual unit of analysis

Answer 16

A unit of analysis in which individuals are the source of data and the focus of conclusions

Question 17

Group unit of analysis

Answer 17

A unit of analysis in which groups are the source of data and the focus of conclusions

Question 18

Trend (repeated cross-sectional) design

Answer 18

A longitudinal study in which data are colelcted at two or more points in time from different smaples of the same population

Question 19

Panel design

Answer 19

A longitudinal study in which data are collected from the same individuals - the panel - at two or more points in time

Question 20

Cohort

Answer 20

Individuals or groups with a common starting point

Question 21

Cohort design

Answer 21

A longitudinal study in which data are collected at two or more points in time from individuals in a cohort

Question 22

Units of analysis

Answer 22

The entities being studied, whose behavior is to be understood

Question 23

Ecological fallacy

Answer 23

An error in reasoning in which conclusions about individual-level processes are drawn from group-level data

Question 24

Reducionist fallacy (reductionism)

Answer 24

An error in reasoning that occurs when incorrect conclusions about group-level processes are based on individual-level data