Midterm Flashcards
Cohort Study
Longitudinal
Researcher focuses on a category of people who share a similar life experience in a specified time period
Cross-sectional research
researcher examines a single point in time or takes a one-time snapshot approach
Data
empirical evidence or info that a person gathers carefully according to established rules or procedures
Descriptive research
research in which one “paints a picture” with words or numbers, presents a profile, outlines stages, or classifies types
Empirical evidence
the observations that people experience through their senses; can be direct or indirect
Explanatory research
research that focuses on why events occur or tries to test and build on social theory
Exploratory research
research into an area that has not been studied and in which a researcher wants to develop initial ideas and a more focused research question
Field Research (Qualitative)
researcher directly observes the people being studied in a natural setting for an extended period
Halo Effect
personal experience as knowledge.
Overgeneralize what they accept as being highly positive and lets its strong reputation rub off onto other areas.
Longitudinal research
researcher examines the features of people or other units at multiple points in time
Overgeneralization
personal experience as knowledge.
Some evidence supports a belief but they falsely assume that it applies to many other situations.
Panel Study
Longitudinal
Researcher observes exactly the same people across multiple time points
Premature closure
personal experience as knowledge.
Feel they have the answers and do not need to listen or seek info any longer.
Qualitative data
info in the form of words, pictures, sounds, etc
Quantitative data
info in the form of numbers
Selective observation
tendency to take notice of certain people or events based on past experience or attitudes.
Time-series study
any research that takes place over time, in which different people or cases may be looked at in each time point
Classification
Complex concepts that have subtypes.
The are parts of social theories b/t one simple concept and a full theoretical explanation.
Concept cluster
a collection of interrelated ideas that share common assumptions, belong to the same larger social theory, and refer to one another
Deductive approach
approach to social theory in which one begins with abstract ideas and then words toward concrete, empirical evidence to test the ideas
Ideal type
pure, abstract models that define the essence of the phenomenon in question
-broad, bringing together several narrower concrete concepts
Macro-level theory
social theories about more abstract, large-scale aspects of social reality
Meso-level theory
social theories about the middle level of social reality b/t a broad and narrow scope, such as the development of social organizations, communities, etc
Micro-level theory
social theories about the concrete, small-scale, and narrow level of reality, such as face-to-face interaction in small groups during a 2 month period
Anonymity
research participants remain anonymous
Confidentiality
info with participant names attached but the researcher holds it in confidence
Informed consent
agreement by participants stating that they are willing to be in a study after they learn something about what the research procedure will involve
IRB
committee of researchers and community members that oversees the impact of research procedures on participants and applies ethical guidelines by reviewing procedure
Abstract (2 meanings)
short summary of scholarly journal articles that usually appears at its beginning, or a reference tool for locating scholarly journal articles
First-order interpretation
what the people who are being studied actually feel and think
Level of analysis
a way to talk about the scope of social theory, causal explanation, proposition, hypothesis, or theoretical statement. Range of phenomena it covers, or to which it applies, goes from social psych (micro) to organizational (meso) to large-scale social structure (macro).
Linear Research Path
research that proceeds in a clear, logical, step-by-step straight line. It is more characteristic of a quantitative than a qualitative approach.
Literature Review
a systematic examination of previously published studies on a research question, issue, or method that a researcher undertakes and integrates together to prepare for conducting a study or to bring together and summarize the state of the field.
Nonlinear Research Path
research that proceeds in a circular, back-and-forth manner. More like qualitative.
Second-order interpretation
Qualitative
What a researcher believes the people being studied feel and think
Third-order interpretation
Qualitative
What a researcher tells the reader of a research report that he or she studied, felt and thought
Universe
the broad class of units that are covered in a hypothesis.
Case Study
research (qualitative), on one or a small number of cases in which a researcher carefully examines a large number of details about each case
Basic social research
research designed to advance fundamental knowledge about the social world
Applied social research
research that attempts to solve a concrete problem or address a specific policy question and that has a direct application
Empirical Generalization
quasi-theoretical statement that summarizes findings in empirical evidence
Inductive approach to social theory
one begins with concrete empirical details, then works toward abstract ideas or general principles
Deductive approach to social theory
one begins with abstract ideas and principles then works toward concrete, empirical evidence to test ideas
Ethnographic data logging
approach to field research that emphasizes providing a very detailed description of a different culture from the viewpoint of an insider in that culture to gain greater understanding
Steps in Research Process (7)
- Select topic
- Focus question
- Design study
- Collect data
- Analyze data
- Interpret data
- Inform others
Middle-Range Theory
focuses on a specific substantive topic area (domestic violence, student volunteering, etc), includes a multiple empirical generalization, and builds a theoretical explanation
Theory
a statement of how and why specific facts are related in order to derive some sort of meaning from them
Relationship of Theory to Data
study joins theory (story of how social world operates) with data (observed aspects of social world that are relevant to the theory)
Levels of Theory
Micro-level
Meso-level
Macro-level
Qualitative conceptualization
the process of carefully thinking through a construct’s meaning
Qualitative operationalization
links a conceptual definition to a specific set of things you do (procedures, measurement techniques)
Validity in Qualitative Research
concerned with providing a candid portrayal of social life that is true to the experiences of people being studied
Unobtrusive measures
people do not know you are observing them. Look for what people “naturally” leave behind publically as available evidence about their social behavior, thoughts, or actions
Unobtrusive research
infer from the evidence to behavior, thoughts, or actions, and do so nonreactively w/o disrupting the people being studied
Error and Bias in Qualitative
Reactive effects, Perceptual and Interpretive Distortions, Sampling Errors
Reactive effects
change because they know you are watching
Perceptual and Interpretive distortions
Your background changes what you see
Sampling errors
People may withhold info; Can’t see everything b/c of your role; personal characteristics
Measures to control error and bias
Sampling strategies, Team research, Strategic selection of members, Member checking
Sampling strategies allow the researcher to
compare different groups
Member checking
have members read your interpretation
Qualitative measurement
measurement arises from observations
largely inductive
4 Steps of Ethnographic Interviewing
- Prepping- lit review, interview sched, etc.
- Gathering- collecting data, interview
- Focusing- finding common themes
- Analyzing- making connections from the data
Elements of Ethnographic interview
- Explicit Purpose
- In-Depth interview explanations (project, recording, language, question)
- In-Depth interview questions
Types of interview questions
Descriptive (experience where something happened), Structural (how they understand experience), Contrast (on the spot)
4 Key Features of Ethnographic Interviewing
- Combine structure with flexibility
- Interactive
- Range of probes and follow-up questions for “depth”
- Generative
Writing a good lit review (3)
Define and refine topic
Design search
Locate research reports
