chapter 3 methods

Question 1

reasons sociological research (3)

Answer 1

descriptive, explanatory and exploratory

Question 2

measurement quality (2) (concepts)

Answer 2

1) measurement validity 2) measurement reliability

Question 3

measurement validity

Answer 3

the degree to which measures reflect the theoretical concept that they are intended to measure

Question 4

measures

Answer 4

variable used in emperical research (indicator, emperical variable, proxy)

Question 5

concepts

Answer 5

constructs, theoretical variables

Question 6

operationalization

Answer 6

translation of concepts into measures

Question 7

simple concept

Answer 7

easily measured with emperical variables (age,weight)

Question 8

complex concept

Answer 8

consists of different dimensions (crime, inequality)

Question 9

dimension

Answer 9

aspect of theory variables

Question 10

conceptualization

Answer 10

differentiation of various dimensions on theoretical variables for complex concepts

Question 11

measurement reliability

Answer 11

the degree to which the measurement instrument gives the same result when repeating the observation of the same phenomenon

Question 12

standardization

Answer 12

process of making identical procedures, questions/answers categories and other aspects of the measurement instrument

Question 13

external validity (population)

Answer 13

the validity of inferences about whether the results of the study are generalizable beyond a specific study

Question 14

population

Answer 14

the entire set of cases about which the researcher wants to draw conclusions

Question 15

sample

Answer 15

a small set of cases a researcher selects from the population

Question 16

biased sample

Answer 16

sample for which the observations of the study cannot be generalized to the population

Question 17

representative sample

Answer 17

sample for which the observations in the study can be generalized to the population

Question 18

probability sample

Answer 18

sample drawn by giving individuals equal chance to participate in the study

Question 19

stratified sample

Answer 19

sample based on dividing population into subpopulations (strata)

Question 20

internal validity (causal)

Answer 20

the validity of inferences about whether an observed association between x and Y reflects a causal relationship from x to Y ( association, precede, non-spuriousness)

Question 21

exploratory research

Answer 21

discover new social phenomena and construct new theories, for this purpose you can use various data sources and inductive reasoning

Question 22

Choosing qualitative or quantitative

Answer 22

matter of degree rather than simple dichotomy, can also be used supplementary, first consider aims study then choose method

Question 23

case study research

Answer 23

research that is in-depth examination of extensive amount of information about very few units or cases (organization, criminal gang, school) used to generate thick description and for exploratory purposes (critique: low external validity; however depends on aim and can be standardized with more cases )

Question 24

administrative research

Answer 24

research in which the researcher uses data on human populations that are provided by official institutions such as governments, schools or hospitals

Question 25

population census

Answer 25

data collected among (almost) entire adult population in a country via standardized questionnaires that respondents fill in (mostly socio-demographic info)

Question 26

survey research

Answer 26

research in which the researcher uses questionnaires to collect data from respondents

Question 27

critical survey research

Answer 27

external validity- probability sample, measurement relialibility- standardized, measurement validity- pilot study

Question 28

different surveys

Answer 28

1) repeated cross-sectional (certain interval) 2) multi-level (meso level: work satisfaction in organization) 3) cross-national (macro level) 4) panel (same individuals repeatedly ; study life course changes )

Question 29

difference census and survey

Answer 29

gov-researcher, soc-dem- soc phen, population - sample

Question 30

big data research ( digital/online data, computional social science)

Answer 30

research in which the researcher uses (unstructured) data from the internet, digital communication and digital traces (large scale, continuous time, behavioral data (tracking apps) critique; ext val= only social media users

Question 31

experimental research

Answer 31

research in which the researcher manipulates conditions for some research participants but not others and then compares group responses to see whether doing so made a difference (strong internal validity- manipulate time order, rule out spuriousness) (threat external validity- specific group (weird people) and nature of setting affects result) therefore field or natural experiments (discrimantion -resumes)

Question 32

replication

Answer 32

redoing studies on the same topic, theory or hypotheses using different data, methods or measures to minimize false positives or false negatives