chapter 4 research design

Question 1

correlation

Answer 1

An empirical relationship between two variables such that (1) changes in one are associated with changes in the other or (2) particular attributes of one variable are associated with particular attributes of the other. Correlation in and of itself does not constitute a causal relationship between the two variables, but it is one criterion of causality.

Question 2

spurious relationship

Answer 2

A coincidental statistical correlation between two variables, shown to be caused by some thrid variable.

Question 3

units of analysis

Answer 3

the what or whom being studied. In social science research, the most typical units of analysis are individual people.

Question 4

social artifact

Answer 4

any product of social beings or their behavior. Can be a unit of analysis.

Question 5

ecological fallacy

Answer 5

erroneously drawing conclusions about individuals solely from the observation of groups.

Question 6

reductionism

Answer 6

a fault of some researchers: a strict limitation ( reduction) of the kinds of concepts to be considered relevant to the phenomenon under study.

Question 7

sociobiology

Answer 7

a paradigm based in the view that social behavior can be explained solely in terms of genetic characteristics and behavior.

Question 8

cross-sectional study

Answer 8

A study based on observations representing a single point in time.

Question 9

longitudinal study

Answer 9

a study design involving the collection of data at different points in time.

Question 10

trend study

Answer 10

a type of longitudinal study in which a given characteristic of some population is monitored over time. An example would be a series of Gallup Polls showing the electorate’s preferences for political candidates over the course of a campaign, even though different samples were interviewed at each point.

Question 11

cohort study

Answer 11

a study in which some specific subpopulation, or cohort, is studied over time, although data may be collected from different members in each set of observations. For example, a study of the occupational history of the class of 1970 in which questionnaires were sent every five years would be a cohort study.

Question 12

panel study

Answer 12

a type of longitudinal study, in which data are collected from the same set of people
(the sample or panel) at several points in time.