module 3

Question 1

authoritative knowledge

Answer 1

knowledge based on the accepted authority of the source, example: the capital of Canada is Ottawa” it is a fact that is widely accepted and supported by reliable sources.

Question 2

casual observation

Answer 2

knowledge based on observations without any systematic process for observing or assessing the accuracy of observations. example: man, it’s so hot outside today! I saw a bunch of people wearing shorts and tank tops. its just a causal observation based on what you noticed around you.

Question 3

code of ethics

Answer 3

a set of guidelines that the Canadian sociological association has established to foster ethical research and professionally responsible scholarship in sociology. Example: always treat others with respect and fairness, and maintain confidentiality in professional settings. its a set of guidelines that helps ensure ethical behaviour in a specific context.

Question 4

dependent variable

Answer 4

variable changed by another variable. example: the level of social trust among individuals . its something that sociologists might measure or observe to understand how trust is influenced by various factors in society.

Question 5

empirical evidence

Answer 5

evidence corroborated by direct experience and/or observation. example: a study that examines the relationship between income inequality and crime rates. by collecting data and analyzing it, sociologists can provide empirical evidence to support or refute the hypothesis that higher income inequality is associated with higher crime rates.

Question 6

hypothesis

Answer 6

an educated guess with predicted outcomes about the relationship between two or more variables

Question 7

hypothetic-deductive methodologies

Answer 7

methodologies based on deducing a prediction from a hypothesis and testing the validity of the hypothesis by whether it correctly predicts observations. for example: a sociologist might develop a hypothesis between two relationships, then design a study to collect data and test that hypothesis. its a way to systematically investigate and gather evidence to support or refine sociological theories.

Question 8

independent variable

Answer 8

variable that causes change in a dependent variable

Question 9

inductive approach

Answer 9

methodologies that derive a general statement from a series of empirical observarions

Question 10

interpretive approach

Answer 10

a sociological research approach that seeks in depth understanding of a topic or subject through observation or interaction.

Question 11

literature review

Answer 11

a scholarly research step that entails identifying and studying all existing studies on a topic to create a basis for new research

Question 12

nonreactive

Answer 12

unobtrusive research that does not include direct contact with subjects and will not alter or influence peoples behaviors.

Question 13

operational definitions

Answer 13

specific explanations of abstract concepts that a researcher plans to study

Question 14

overgeneralization

Answer 14

knowledge that draws general conclusions from limited observations