Lecture 1

Question 1

What do sociologists do?

Answer 1

sociologists seek to contribute and enhance knowlege about the social world

Question 2

Research Methods

Answer 2

a systematic process of inquiry applied to learning about the social world
- the goal is “to construct a defensible version of reality”

Question 3

Twin Pillars of Science

Answer 3

Logic and observation

Question 4

What must scientists do?

Answer 4

gather information about facts that is organized and intentional usually follows a set of predetermined steps
- use scientific assertions: must make sense and be supported by empirical information

Question 5

What is the research process?

Answer 5

• specify the research question
• review scientific literature
• propose a theory and state a hypothesis
• select a research design
• collect data
• analyze the data and draw conclusions
• disseminate results

Question 6

Quantitative methods

Answer 6

results in data can be represented and condensed into numbers
- aggregate, compare and summerize data
- survey research focus = most quantitative method

Question 7

Qualitative method

Answer 7

ways of collecting data that yields results such as words, or text
- gain in depth understanding of a relatively small number of cases
- potential for greater richness in meaning than qualified data
- complementary with quanititative

Question 8

What is basic “pure” research?

Answer 8

sometimes researchers are motivated to conduct research simply because they happen to be curious about a topic

Question 9

What is applied research?

Answer 9

refers to sociology that is conducted for some purpose beyond or in addition to a researchers interests in a topic
- find solutions to problems or discover ways of living more effectively
- might involve research for a client

Question 10

What is evaluation research?

Answer 10

often used to test the effectiveness of a social policy or a program

Question 11

Goal of sociological research

Answer 11

aims to find patterns of regularity in social life

Question 12

Selective Observation

Answer 12

noticing only social patterns that one has experienced directly pr wishes to find
- issue: confirmation bias(seek to recall information that supports your existing views)

Question 13

Overgeneralization

Answer 13

assuming that broad social patterns exist based on very limited observation or purely off of “vibes”

Question 14

Variable

Answer 14

a characteristic or measure of a social phenomenon that can take different values

Question 15

Independent Variable

Answer 15

is one that causes another

Question 16

Dependent Variable

Answer 16

one that is caused by another
- dependent variables “depend” on independent variables

Question 17

What is a relational statement

Answer 17

connect 2 or more variables

Question 18

Probabilistic Relationship

Answer 18

two variables go together with some degree or level of regularity
- as the level of one variable also tends to increase

Question 19

Causal

Answer 19

future circumstances are rooted in or conditioned by present ones

Question 20

The Scientific Method

Answer 20

establishes parameters that help ensure that the findings are objective and accurate
- provides boundaries that focus a study and organise it results
- offers sociologists a shared basis for discussion and analysis

Question 21

Hypothesis

Answer 21

an assumption about how two or more variables are related: it makes a statement about their relationship
- it is an educated guess in the form of a testable proposition
- researchers rarely state that they have proven their hypothesis rather they say if it is “supported” or not

Question 22

Null Hypothesis

Answer 22

one that predicts no relationship between variables being studies
- to “reject the null hypothesis” the researcher claims that the variables being studies are related