CRJ Research Methods CH.1-3

Question 1

3 major classical sociological theories

Answer 1

structural- functionalism, social conflict, symbolic interactionism

Question 2

define structural functionalism

Answer 2

macro approach, society is a unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its separate components , Emile Durkeim founder

Question 3

overgeneralization

Answer 3

we unjustifiably conclude what is true for one case is true for all

Question 4

selective/inaccurate observation

Answer 4

choosing to look only at things that are in line with our preferences or beliefs

Question 5

illogical reasoning

Answer 5

premature jumping to conclusions or arguing on the basis of invalid assumptions

Question 6

resistance to change

Answer 6

reluctance to change our ideas in light of new information

Question 7

4 most important goals of social research

Answer 7

description, exploration, explanation, evaluation

Question 8

descriptive research

Answer 8

social phenomena are defined and described

Question 9

exploratory research

Answer 9

seeks to find out how people get along in the setting under question, what meanings they give to their actions, and what issues concern them

Question 10

explanatory research

Answer 10

seeks to identify causes and effects of social phenomena and to predict how one phenomenon will change or vary in response to variation in another phenomenon

Question 11

evaluation research

Answer 11

research that describes or identifies the impact of social policies and programs

Question 12

validity

Answer 12

when statements or conclusions about empirical reality are correct

Question 13

measurement validity

Answer 13

exists when an indicator measures what we think it measures

Question 14

sample generalizability

Answer 14

exists when a conclusion based on a sample, or subset, of a larger population holds true for that population

Question 15

cross-population generalizability (external validity)

Answer 15

exists when findings about one group, population, or setting hold true for other groups, populations, or settings

Question 16

causal validity (internal validity)

Answer 16

exists when a conclusion that A leads to, or results in, B is correct

Question 17

tenets of symbolic interactionism

Answer 17

1. we act towards things on the basis of their meaning
2. meanings are not inherent
3. meanings can be changed or modified through interactions

Question 18

intersectionality theory

Answer 18

links gender, race, & other types of oppression & inequality

inequality looks and feels different to everyone

Question 19

queer theory

Answer 19

argues there is no inherent normal binary gender or sexuality

Question 20

deductive research

Answer 20

a specific expectation is deduced from a general premise and is then tested

Question 21

inductive research

Answer 21

general conclusions are drawn from specific data

Question 22

research circle

Answer 22

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

Question 23

where do social research questions emerge from?

Answer 23

-your own experience
-research by other investigators
-social theory
-a request issued by a government agency

Question 24

characteristics of a good research question:

Answer 24

feasibility: sufficient time & resources to conduct the study
social importance: will your research question make a difference in the social world?
scientific relevance: does the research question solve an issue
in social theory or find something new?

Question 25

direction of association

Answer 25

a pattern in a relationship between two variables; the value of a variable tends to change consistently in relation to change in the other variable. The direction of association can be positive or negative.

Question 26

rational choice theory

Answer 26

people’s behavior shaped by calculations of the costs and benefits of their actions

Question 27

symbolic interactionalism

Answer 27

people give symbolic meaning to objects, behaviors, and other people. micro theory. face to face interactions are the building blocks of society.

Question 28

social conflict theory

Answer 28

society at a constant struggle/ competition for power 7 resources. lower class is exploited. social inequality. driving force for social change. critical of status quo.

Question 29

dysfunction

Answer 29

disturbance or undesirable consequences of some aspect of the social system. can lead to social change to new equilibrium.

Question 30

inductive reasoning

Answer 30

reasoning that moves from the specific to the general

Question 31

anomalous

Answer 31

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

Question 32

serendipitous

Answer 32

unexpected patterns in data which stimulate new ideas or theoretical approaches

Question 33

cross sectional research design

Answer 33

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

Question 34

longitudinal research design

Answer 34

data is collected over time, can be at two or more points in time

Question 35

individual unit of analysis

Answer 35

individuals are the source of data and focus of conclusions

Question 36

group unit of analysis

Answer 36

groups are the source of data and focus of conclusions

Question 37

cohort research design

Answer 37

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

Question 38

cohort

Answer 38

individuals with a common starting point, ex: birth place, same job for many years(seniority cohort)

Question 39

ecological fallacy

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects/ The Common Rule/ ethical research guidelines

Answer 40

-to protect research subjects
-to maintain honesty and openness
-to achieve valid results
-to encourage appropriate application

4 rules:
-avoid harming research participants
-obtain informed consent
-avoid deception in research, except in limited circumstances
-maintain privacy and confidentiality

Question 41

debriefing

Answer 41

a researcher’s informing subjects after an experiment about the experiment’s purpose and methods and evaluating subject’s personal reactions to the experiment

Question 42

ethics

Answer 42

moral system that determines whether actions are right or wrong

Question 43

nuremberg code

Answer 43

set of reach ethics principles for human experimentation created as a result of the numerberg trials . risk vs benefit analysis also stemmed from these trials.

Question 44

Tuskegee syphilis experiment

Answer 44

conducted a long term study of untreated syphilis under the guise of free healthcare. treatment was available but it was not given to the participants, the participants were unaware of the cure existing.

Question 45

tearoom trade study

Answer 45

mens sexual behavior with other men was observed under the guise of a “lookout”. their private info (license, name, etc.) was recorded. the “lookout” then interviewed them.

Question 46

obedience experiment

Answer 46

miligrams’s shock experiment. studies willingness to cause pain to another person if instructed to do so.

Question 47

Belmont report

Answer 47

Respect for persons—treating persons as autonomous agents and protecting those with diminished autonomy
Beneficence—minimizing possible harms and maximizing benefits
Justice—distributing benefits and risks of research fairly

Question 48

Institutional Board review

Answer 48

A group of organizational and community representatives required by federal law to review the ethical issues in all proposed research that is federally funded, involves human subjects, or has any potential for harm to subjects.