Chapter 5 Flashcards
a statement of how variables are expected to be related to one another, often according to prediction from a theory
Hypothesis
a factor thought to be significant for human behavior, which can vary (or change) from one case to another.
Variable
the way in which a researcher measures a variable
Operational Definition
one of seven procedures that sociologists use to collect data: surveys, participant observation, case studies, secondary analysis, documents, experiments, and unobtrusive measures.
Research Method/Design
the extent to which an operational definition measures what it is intended to measure.
Validity
the extent to which research produces consistent or dependable results
Reliability
the collection of data by having people answer a series of questions
Survey
a target group to be studied
Population
the individuals intended to represent the population to be studied
Sample
a sample in which everyone in the target population has the same chance of being included in the study
Random Sample
a sample from selected subgroups of that target population in which everyone in those subgroups has an equal chance of being included in the research.
Stratified Random Sample
people’s response to a survey, either in interviews or be self-administered questionnaires.
Respondents
a list of questions to be asked of respondents
Questionnaires
questionnaires that respondents fill out
Self-Administered Questionnaires
direct questioning of respondents
Interview
effects of interviewers on respondents that lead to biased answers
Interview Bias
interviews that use close-ended question
Structured Interviews
questions that are followed by a list of possible answers to be selected be the respondent
Close-ended questions
interviews that use open-ended questions
Unstructured Interviews
questions that respondents answer in their own words
Open Ended Questions
a feeling of trust between researchers and the people they are studying
Rapport
research in which the researcher participates I the research setting while observing what is happening in the setting.
Participant Observation
the extent to which the findings from one group or sample can be generalized or applied to other groups or populations.
Generalizability
an intensive analysis of single event, situation, or individual.
Case Study
The analysis of data that have been collected by other researchers.
Secondary Analysis
in its narrow sense, written sources that provide data; in its extended sense, archival material of any sort, including photographs, movies, CDs, DVDs, and so on.
Documents
the use of control and experimental groups and dependent and independent variables to test causation
Experiment
the group of subjects in an experiment who are exposed to the independent variable
Experimental Group
the subjects in an experiment who are not exposed to the independent variable
Control group
a factor that causes a change in another variable, called the dependent variable
Independent Variable
a factor in an experiment that is changed by an independent variable.
Dependent Variable
ways of observing people so they do not know they are being studied.
Obtrusive Measures
What are the eight basic steps of sociological research?
- Select a Topic
- Define the Problem
- Review the Literature
- Formulate a Hypothesis
- Choose a Research Method
- Collect the Data
- Analyze the Results
- Share the Results
