Final- Causation and Research Design

Question 1

Association

Answer 1

A criterion for establishing a nomothetic causal relationship between two variables: Variation in one variable is related to variation in another variable.

Question 2

Cohort Study

Answer 2

A type of longitudinal study in which data are collected at two or more points in time from individuals or groups with a common starting point. For example, people who were born in the40’s and 50’s are the “baby boom generation”

Question 3

Context

Answer 3

A focus of idiographic causal explanation; a particular outcome is understood as part of a larger set of interrelated circumstances.

Question 4

Counterfactual

Answer 4

Situation as it would have been in the absence of variation in the independent variable

Question 5

Cross-Sectional research design

Answer 5

A study in which the data are collected at only one point in time.

Question 6

Ecological Fallacy

Answer 6

An error in reasoning in which the incorrect conclusions about individual-level processes are drawn from group-level data.

Question 7

Idiographic causal explanation

Answer 7

An explanation that idntifies the concrete, individual sequence of events, thoughts or actions that resulted in a particular outcome for a particular individual or that led to a particular event.

Question 8

Intervening Variables

Answer 8

Variables that are influenced by independent variables and in turn influence variation in a dependent variable, thus helping to explain the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Question 9

Mechanism

Answer 9

A Discernible process that creates a causal connection between two variables.

Question 10

Mediating Variable

Answer 10

The independent variable impacts the mediating variable and the mediating variable affects the dependent variable. The effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable becomes zero.

Question 11

Moderator Varaiable

Answer 11

A third variable that interacts with the independent variable.

Question 12

Nomothetic causal explanation

Answer 12

explanation that identifies common influences on a number of cases or events.

Question 13

Nonspuriousness

Answer 13

A criterion for establishing a causal relation between two variables; when a relationship between two variables isn’t due to variation in a third variable.

Question 14

Panel Study

Answer 14

Longitudinal study of the same individuals

Question 15

Random Assignment

Answer 15

Procedure by which each experimental subject is randomly placed in a group.

Question 16

Randomization

Answer 16

Random assignment of cases, such as by the toss of a coin.

Question 17

Reductionist fallacy

Answer 17

Error in reasoning that occurs when an incorrect conclusion about group-level processes are based on individual-level data.

Question 18

Spurious Relationships

Answer 18

When the relationship between two variables is actually caused by a third variable.

Question 19

Statistical Control

Answer 19

Method in which one variable is held constant so that the relationship between 2 (or more) variables can be assessed without the influence of variation in the control variable.

Question 20

Time Order

Answer 20

Criterion for establishing a causal relation between two variables. The variation in the presumed cause ( the independent variable) must occur before the variation in the presumed effect (dependent variable)

Question 21

Trend Studies

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Units of Analysis

Answer 22

The level of social life on which a research question is focused.

Question 23

Units of observation

Answer 23

The cases about which measures actually are obtained in a sample.