Exam 1

Question 1

Descriptive Research

Answer 1

Research in which social phenomena are defined and described

Question 2

Exploratory Research

Answer 2

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 3

Explanatory Research

Answer 3

Seeks to identify causes and effects of social phenomena and to predict how one phenomenon will change or vary in response to variation in some other phenomenon

Question 4

Evaluation Research

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Illogical Reasoning

Answer 5

Jumping to conclusions or arguing on the basis of invalid assumptions

Question 6

Overgeneralization

Answer 6

Concluding unjustifiably that what is true for some cases is true for all cases

Question 7

Triangulation

Answer 7

The use of multiple methods to study one research question

Question 8

Selective Observation

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Deductive Research

Answer 9

research in which a specific expectation is deduced from a general premise and is then tested
starts with theory

Question 10

Inductive Research

Answer 10

research in which general conclusions are drawn from specific data, qualitative research mostly
starts with observation, data and ends with theory

Question 11

Independent Variable

Answer 11

A variable that is hypothesized to cause or lead to variation in another variable

Question 12

Dependent Variable

Answer 12

a variable that is hypothesized to vary depending on another variable

Question 13

Internal Validity (threats to causal validity)

Answer 13

selection bias
history effect
contamination
attrition
staff expectations

Question 14

Statistical Control

Question 15

Causation

Question 16

Quasi Experiments

Answer 16

a comparison group similar to an experimental group but not using random assignment to the comparison and experimental groups

Question 17

3 required criteria for causation

Answer 17

time order, association, non-spuriousness

Question 18

Hypothesis

Answer 18

A tentative statement about empirical reality, involving a relationship between two or more variables

Question 19

variables

Answer 19

a characteristic or property that can vary (take on different values or attributes)

Question 20

Social Research standards

Answer 20

1. validity
2. generalizability
3. Authenticity

Question 21

2 types of validity

Answer 21

measurement validity, causal validity

Question 22

Validity def.

Answer 22

when statements or conclusions about empirical reality are correct

Question 23

generalizability def.

Answer 23

when a conclusion holds true for the population we say it does, given the conditions we specify

Question 24

2 types of generalizability

Answer 24

sample, cross-population

Question 25

authenticity def.

Answer 25

when the understanding of a social process or social setting is one that reflects fairly the various perspectives of participants in that setting

Question 26

cross sectional designs

Answer 26

all data are collected at one point in time
generally, surveys
does not capture the full picture, but takes less time to conduct research

Question 27

longitudinal designs

Answer 27

data are collected at two or more points in time

Question 28

3 types of longitudinal designs

Answer 28

1. repeated cross sectional (also called trend)
2. fixed sample panel study
3. event-based design (also called cohort)

Question 29

repeated cross sectional

Answer 29

data are collected at two or more points in time from different samples of the same population

Question 30

fixed sample panel study

Answer 30

data are collected from the same individuals at two or more points in time
(better research for pattern finding, but difficult to follow up on same group at two different points in time)

Question 31

event based design

Answer 31

data are collected at two or more points in time form individuals in a cohort (ppl with a common starting point such as classmates)

Question 32

differential attrition

Answer 32

when comparison groups become different because subjects drop out for one reason or another

Question 33

contamination

Answer 33

when either group is aware of the other group and therefore influenced

Question 34

staff expectations

Answer 34

when change among subjects results from positive expectancies of the staff who are delivering the treatment rather than from the treatment itself
(hawthorne effect)
(can combat with double blind or placebo)

Question 35

Ethical issues in experimental design

Answer 35

deception
selective distribution of benefits

Question 36

non-equivalent control group design

Answer 36

experimental and comparison groups are designated before treatment occurs, but not by random assignment

Question 37

before and after design

Answer 37

compariosn of scores on dependent variables before and after variation in independent variable but no comparison/control group

Question 38

Ex post facto control group design

Answer 38

non experimental design, comparison groups are selected after the treatment has occurred

Question 39

4 errors in reasoning

Answer 39

1. observing
2. generalizing
3. reasoning
4. reevaluating

Question 40

social science def.

Answer 40

relies on the scientific methods to investigate individuals, societies, and social processes

Question 41

Constructivism

Answer 41

questioning belief in an external reality

Question 42

anomolous findings

Answer 42

unexpected patterns in data

Question 43

serendipitous findings

Answer 43

unexpected patterns in data that stimulate new explanations, insights, etc.

Question 44

Nowacki summary

Answer 44

The influences of gender and family attachment on street code.
Reputation and respect are vital in youth culture in these neighborhoods.
mostly male.
bond between family makes youths less likely to adhere to street code bc they don’t want to disappoint family (more for girls than boys)
victimization influences adherence to street codes.