Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Sociology 20 Research Methods > Midterm 1 > Flashcards

Midterm 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Writing Longhand produces what results

A

Better results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Epistemological Orientation

A

The beliefs about how research should be conducted and influence research. ex. scientific approach or more sensitive to social world
2 Types
- Postivist
- Interpretivist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ontological Orientation

A

Considers the nature of social phenomena ex. is it inert and beyond our influence or are they a product of social interaction
2 types
- Objective
- Constructionist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Positivist

A

Advocates scientific method
Knowing something or not
Generate hypothesis that can be tested
-epistemological

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Interpretivist

A

Social world can’t be treated the same as the natural world (it moves)
-epistemological

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Realism / realist

A

The natural and social sciences can and should apply the same kinds of approach to the collections of data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Objectivist

A

Social Phenomena confront us as external facts that are beyond our reach or influence

ex. an organization that exerts pressure on its members
- Does not matter who you are, only environment
- Ontological

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Constructionist

A

Social factors and their meaning are constantly being achieved by actors

  • Matters who you are
  • Ontological
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Measurement Validity

A

Whether a measure that is devised of a concept reflects the concept being measured
Primarily quantitative (quantitative)
-face validity can be a part of it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Internal Validity

A

Causality, does A cause B

  • independent and dependent variable
  • How confident are we that it does
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

External Validity

A

Can the study be generalized beyond the specific research context

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Ecological Validity

A

Does the study represent the real world

-stanley-trustgame

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The money buys happiness study which measures how amount of money contributes to mental health only to a point in people has the strongest type of what kind of validity

A

Measurement validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Quantitative research

A

typically numbers based

deductive-theory to confirmation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Qualitative research

A

typically observation or words based

inductive- observation to theory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Reliability

A

Can you get the same result multiple times

ex. how much variations were there in the telephone interviews and will we get the same answers in the evening

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Replicability

A

Can someone else achieve this result

-different than reliability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Validity

A

Do findings mean what they say (4 types)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Face Validity

A

Intuitively, does it measure what it say it does ex. using gpa for intelligence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Concurrent Validity

A

Does it correlate with another measure in another study

-does absenteeism from work relate to job satisfaction?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Predictive Validity

A

Does it correctly predict some future event

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Research Design

A 
Framework for the collection and analysis of data 
5 types
-experimental
-cross sectional 
-longitudinal 
-case study 
-comparative
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Research Strategy

A

Your ideas about how theory and research and linked.

Your idea about what counts as knowledge (epistemological) and how things exist in the real world (ontological)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Research Method

A

The technique you use for collecting and analyzing data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Experimental study

A 
High control of setting 
manipulates independent variable(s)
control and test groups 
always trumps other designs
Strong: internal validity
Weak: ecological validity and external validity 
ex amodio & devine study 
(research design)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Cross-sectional study

A

Multiple cases (because variation) at a single point in time and establishes quantifiable data
-patterns of association
-typically a survey
Strong: External validity (generalizable)
Weak: Internal Validity
(research design)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Longitudinal study

A

When a sample is surveyed at least one extra time on a further occasion
panel study- random selection with data collected and not necessarily associated with a group
cohort study- data pulled from a cohort (group of people) randomly selected or otherwise multiple times
needs to be the same group to be longitudinal
Internal validity weaker, but time might improve this
(research design)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Case Study

A 
Detailed analysis of a single case
-the case is the unit of analysis 
critical case-chosen to test theory 
extreme case-chosendue to atypicality 
revelatory case- a lucky opportunity to study something 
longitudinal case- can be studied over time 
ex case study of "genie" who was locked away until she was 13
-case study trumps longitudinal 
Strong: internal
strongish: ecological
weak: external
(research design)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Comparative Study

A 
two case studies or two cross sectional studies compared 
ex 2 hosptials, 2 individuals, 2 couples
Strong: external validity 
Weak: internal validity 
(research design)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

In the money buys happiness study, where emotional well being and evaluation of life were studied, what was the independent variable? and what were the results?

A

income was the independent variable
Happiness increased to 75k and then leveled off
evaluation of life went up
has measurement validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Unit of analysis

A

what is being studied ex. group, town, arrests

32
Q

Main steps in quantitative research

A

(just remember there are 4-5)

theory, hypothesis, research design, analysis/conclusion

33
Q

Likert Scale

A

Common technique in surveys about attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors

  • 5 to 7 point scale
  • must involve statements, statements related to some object, items should be interrelated, usually some reverse coded
34
Q

Implicit prejudice in the white/black face response

A

participants responding faster or slower to negative or positive words following black faces
trustworthiness scale: 1-9 scale on neutral male faces black and white

35
Q

Criticisms of quantitative research

A

Fails to distinguish people/ social institutions form the world of nature
The idea that the measurement process interpreted consistently by different people is flawed
analyzing can become disconnected

36
Q

Sample population

A

The universe of units from which a sample is selected

37
Q

sample

A

the segement of the population selected for study

38
Q

Sampling frame

A

what you will draw on to obtain the sample ex. list of all registered voters

39
Q

two types of probability sampling

A

probability sampling and non probability sample

40
Q

sampling bias and when does it happen

A

a sample that does not represent the population well–some members are more likely to be selected than others

  • non probability sampling method
  • sampling frame is inadequate
  • systematic non-response within sample
41
Q

Simple random sampling

A

equal chance ex. hat drawing

42
Q

systematic sampling

A

sampling frame
-take every 3rd person
(random)

43
Q

stratified random sampling

A

equal chance, but first sorted into groups
inclusion is random within criteria
and you can set up proportions ex. every 5th republican
(random)

44
Q

multistage clustering sample

A

random at each level, but there are multiple levels
-look for tree looking thing
(random)

45
Q

convenience sample

A

whoever you can get

non random

46
Q

snowball sample

A

you start with one and add
-when the population is not clear
(non random)

47
Q

Quota sample

A

you take what you can until you reach a quota

non random

48
Q

Open questions vs closed questions

A

open- write in answer

closed- categories

49
Q

principles of ordering

A

general to specific
broader question followed by components
demographic questions late
-delicate and open questions should not be first

50
Q

order bias

A

order of questions specificity will guide understanding of overall experience
can put “overall experience” at the beginning so small details don’t create bias

51
Q

consistency in regards to order effects

A

1 person should have the same outlook over multiple questions
ex. same political beliefs over multiple questions or environmentally friendly over multiple questions

52
Q

contrast in regards to order effects

A

once more than one question is asked, the first effects the latter
ex. more people favor civil unions after being asked about gay marriage

53
Q

additive or positive in regards to order effects

A

when the answer to the second question goes up or the response is higher in response to the first

54
Q

negative or subtractive in regards to order effects

A

when the second response goes down or decreases

55
Q

Good and bad of open questions

A

Good: allows for respondents to answer (so unusual responses)
No answer suggested
Generates fixed answers
Bad: time consuming
can be unreliable to code
more respondent effort
variability in recording can compromise validity

56
Q

Good and bad of closed questions

A 
Good: easy to process answers 
easy to compare answers 
meaning of questions clarified
less interviewer variability 
Bad: less spontaneity 
difficult to be exhaustive 
interpretation may be different
57
Q

Presuppositions in question design

A

things that are assumed

ex. how often do you goto the movies? assumes you goto the movies

58
Q

Question polarity in question design

A

a question can tilt it negatively

ex in the evening do you eat (any) sugar?

59
Q

Social preference questions often work in some areas but others they dont

A

ex do you have sex with several different partners?

how many sexual partners do you currently have?

60
Q

Agreement bias in question design example

A

To what extent do you think obama has done the best job he could have during 2010? more likely to agree
To what extent do you think obama has done the worst job in history?

61
Q

Interval/ratio variable

A

variable where the distances across the categories are identical
ex. minutes

62
Q

Ordinal variable

A

variables who’s categories can be rank ordered, but the distances are not equal across the range
ex 1-2 years 3-4 years 5-6 years 6+ years

63
Q

Categorical or nominal variables

A

variables who’s categories cannot be ranked

ex race and ethnicity

64
Q

Dichotomous variables

A

variables containing data that only have 2 categories

65
Q

What is univariate analysis and what is the most popular tool to visualize it?

A

the analysis of one variable at a time
frequency table
ex. number of teenagers that drink 83%

66
Q

Interval data and measure of central tendency in univariate analysis

A

mean-average
median-mid point
mode-most frequent value

67
Q

What is bivariate analysis

A

analysis of two variables at a time to uncover whether the two variables are related
-relational

68
Q

methods of bivariate analysis

A 
scatter plot (correlation line from trending points)
works well with interval data (shows correlation)
contingency tables-work well with ordinal/dichotomous/categorical data
69
Q

what is used as a confidence to see if an association is real?

A

p-value - probability by chance

p

70
Q

what are statistical tests in variable analysis

A

tests assess probability that association between two variables is real
which test depends on variable type
-the relationship between ind. and depend. because we don’t know causality

71
Q

difference between association and causality

A

causality- Independent variable must actually lead to dependent variable
association hypothesis- IV and DV are associated with each other
-surveys aren’t great at supporting causality

72
Q

Structured observation

A

A method for systematically observing the behavior of individuals in terms of a schedule of categories

advantage: behavior observed directly can be more valid
disadvantage: more finite access to behavior

73
Q

Incident observation

A

wait for something to happen and then observe what happens

strategy for systematic observation

74
Q

Across time observation

A

across some period of time

ex. code for 20 minutes everything

75
Q

At particular times observation

A

code every x seconds

76
Q

What is an example of a threat to validity (guinea pig)

A

guinea pig effect
aware of study so you create a better impression
express socially preferred attitudes

Sociology 20 Research Methods (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions