Methods Flashcards
research methods
approaches social scientists use for investigating the answers to questions
quantitative methods
methods seeking to obtain information that is already in or can be converted to numerical form
qualitative methods
methods that collect information that cannot be easily converted to numeric form
deductive approach
an approach that starts with theory, forms a hypothesis, makes empirical observations and analyzes data to reject, confirm or alter the original theory
inductive approach
a research approach that begins with observation and constructs a theory based on that collected data.
correlation
(or association) simultaneous variation between two variables, either positive or negative
causality
when changes in one factor results in change in another
reverse causality
when a researcher believes A causes B but the reverse turns out to be the case
dependent variable
the outcome the researcher wishes to explain
independent variable
a measured factor the researcher believes has a causal relationship with the dependent variable
hypothesis
a proposed relationship between two variables
operationalization
the process of assigning a precise method for studying a term
validity
the extent to which an instrument measures what it intends to measure
reliability
the likelihood of obtaining consistent results using the same measure
generalizability
the extent to which we can claim that findings inform us about a group larger than the one studied
reflexivity
analyzing and critically considering our own role in and effect on our research
feminist methodology
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
population
an entire group of individuals, items or objects from which a sample may be drawn
sample
the subset of the population from which you are actually collecting data
case study
an intensive investigation of one particular unit of analysis in order to describe it or uncover its mechanisms
participant observation
qualitative research method that seeks to uncover the meaning people give their social actions by observing their behavior
survey
ordered series of questions designed to elicit information from respondents
interview
open ended dialogue between researcher and participant
historical methods
research that collects data from written records and artifacts that date back to period under study
comparative research
methodology which compares two or more entities similar along many different dimensions except one to learn about that differing dimension
content analysis
systematic analysis of the content of a communication such as written work, speech or film
experimental methods
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