chapter 2 - vocab

Question 1

inductive theory

Answer 1

a theory developed by gathering data first, then drawing conclusions

Question 2

deductive theory

Answer 2

developed by starting with a theory then gathering data to support, reject or refine the theory

Question 3

primary research

Answer 3

research supported by the person who conducted it

Question 4

experiment

Answer 4

a research method that involved control and manipulation of variables

Question 5

independent variable

Answer 5

the presumed cause

Question 6

dependent variable

Answer 6

the presumed effect

Question 7

manipulation

Answer 7

in establishing causality, research participants are exposed to varying levels of the independent variable

Question 8

laboratory experiment

Answer 8

an experiment that takes place in a location other than where people would normally engage in particular communication

Question 9

field experiements

Answer 9

an experiment that takes place in a location where people would normally engage in particular communication

Question 10

survey research

Answer 10

a method that involves asking people what they think or do

Question 11

interview

Answer 11

an oral survey method

Question 12

focus group

Answer 12

a survey method that onvolved questioning a small group of people at the same time

Question 13

questionnaire

Answer 13

a written survey method

Question 14

open-ended question

Answer 14

questions that allow a respondent to use his or her own words to respond

Question 15

textual analysis

Answer 15

a research method that studies the characteristics or patterns of a written or recorded message

Question 16

rhetorical criticism

Answer 16

a research method that involves describing, interpreting, and analyzing texts

Question 17

content analysis

Answer 17

a research method that involves creating categories for communication content and counting the number of times each category appears

Question 18

text/data mining

Answer 18

uses advances data analysis techniques to uncover patterns in large amounts of information

Question 19

interaction analysis

Answer 19

focuses on the nature or structure of interaction

Question 20

ethnography

Answer 20

requires the researcher to immerse himself or herself into a particular context or culture in order to understand communication riles and meanings

Question 21

complete participant

Answer 21

in an ethnography, when the researcher is fully involved in the social setting, and the participants do not know the researcher is studying them

Question 22

participant observer

Answer 22

in an ethnography, when a researcher becomes fully involved with the culture or context but admits his or her research agenda before entering the environment

Question 23

complete observer

Answer 23

in an ethnography, when the researcher does not interact with the members of the culture or context

Question 24

humanistic approach

Answer 24

the philosophical approach to the study of communication that involves pragmatism, as well as specific theoretical and methodological commitments

Question 25

subjectivity

Answer 25

the belief that meaning is unique to each person

Question 26

interpretation

Answer 26

the understanding that someone derives from a message

Question 27

objectivity

Answer 27

the belief that researchers should be value-free when conducting research

Question 28

generalizations

Answer 28

a pattern that holds true across groups, time and place

Question 29

determinism

Answer 29

the belief that causes and effects can be uncovered when studying human communication

Question 30

pragmatism

Answer 30

the belief that scholars should focus on the communicative choices people make

Question 31

social scientific approach

Answer 31

the philosophical approach to that study of communication that involves determinism, as well as specific theoretical and methodological commitments

Question 32

quantitative

Answer 32

an approach to analyzing data that focuses on numbers or stats

Question 33

qualitative

Answer 33

an approach to analyzing data that focuses on rich description of what has been observed, interpreted, or critiqued

Question 34

extension

Answer 34

when new concepts or ideas are added to a theory

Question 35

intension

Answer 35

a deeper or more nuanced understanding of theoretical conecepts