Methods

Question 1

research methods

Answer 1

approaches social scientists use for investigating the answers to questions

Question 2

quantitative methods

Answer 2

methods seeking to obtain information that is already in or can be converted to numerical form

Question 3

qualitative methods

Answer 3

methods that collect information that cannot be easily converted to numeric form

Question 4

deductive approach

Answer 4

an approach that starts with theory, forms a hypothesis, makes empirical observations and analyzes data to reject, confirm or alter the original theory

Question 5

inductive approach

Answer 5

a research approach that begins with observation and constructs a theory based on that collected data.

Question 6

correlation

Answer 6

(or association) simultaneous variation between two variables, either positive or negative

Question 7

causality

Answer 7

when changes in one factor results in change in another

Question 8

reverse causality

Answer 8

when a researcher believes A causes B but the reverse turns out to be the case

Question 9

dependent variable

Answer 9

the outcome the researcher wishes to explain

Question 10

independent variable

Answer 10

a measured factor the researcher believes has a causal relationship with the dependent variable

Question 11

hypothesis

Answer 11

a proposed relationship between two variables

Question 12

operationalization

Answer 12

the process of assigning a precise method for studying a term

Question 13

validity

Answer 13

the extent to which an instrument measures what it intends to measure

Question 14

reliability

Answer 14

the likelihood of obtaining consistent results using the same measure

Question 15

generalizability

Answer 15

the extent to which we can claim that findings inform us about a group larger than the one studied

Question 16

reflexivity

Answer 16

analyzing and critically considering our own role in and effect on our research

Question 17

feminist methodology

Answer 17

a set of methods that treat women’s experiences as legitimate theoretical and empirical resources, promote social science for women and take account of the researcher

Question 18

population

Answer 18

an entire group of individuals, items or objects from which a sample may be drawn

Question 19

sample

Answer 19

the subset of the population from which you are actually collecting data

Question 20

case study

Answer 20

an intensive investigation of one particular unit of analysis in order to describe it or uncover its mechanisms

Question 21

participant observation

Answer 21

qualitative research method that seeks to uncover the meaning people give their social actions by observing their behavior

Question 22

survey

Answer 22

ordered series of questions designed to elicit information from respondents

Question 23

interview

Answer 23

open ended dialogue between researcher and participant

Question 24

historical methods

Answer 24

research that collects data from written records and artifacts that date back to period under study

Question 25

comparative research

Answer 25

methodology which compares two or more entities similar along many different dimensions except one to learn about that differing dimension

Question 26

content analysis

Answer 26

systematic analysis of the content of a communication such as written work, speech or film

Question 27

experimental methods

Answer 27

methods that alter the social landscape in a specific way for a sample of individuals and then track what results that change yields; often involves comparison to control group