SOCI 1010 2.2 Research Methods

Question 21

primary source data collection

Answer 21

such as survey, participant observation, ethnography, case study, unobtrusive observations, experiment, and secondary data analysis, or use of existing sources.

Question 22

secondary data analysis

Answer 22

using data collected by others and applying new interpretations

Question 23

survey

Answer 23

collect data from subjects who respond to a series of questions about thinking, behaviors, and opinions, often in the form of a questionnaire

Question 24

population

Answer 24

a defined group serving as the subject of a study

Question 25

population

Answer 25

a defined group serving as the subject of a study

Question 26

sample

Answer 26

small, manageable number of subjects that represent the population

Question 27

random sample

Answer 27

a study’s participants being randomly selected to serve as a representation of a larger population

Question 28

closed-ended questions

Answer 28

yes-or-no or multiple-choice questions

Question 29

quantitative data

Answer 29

data collected in numerical form that can be counted and analyzed using statistics

Question 30

open-ended questions

Answer 30

more complex questions with more complex answers—beyond “yes,” “no,” or checkbox options. These types of inquiries use open-ended questions that require short essay responses. Participants willing to take the time to write those answers might convey personal religious beliefs, political views, goals, or morals. The answers are subjective and vary from person to person. How do you plan to use your college education?

Question 31

qualitative data

Answer 31

non-numerical, descriptive data that is often subjective and based on what is experienced in a natural setting

Question 32

interview

Answer 32

a one-on-one conversation between the researcher and the subject

Question 33

field research

Answer 33

gathering data from a natural environment without doing a lab experiment or a survey

Question 34

primary data

Answer 34

data that are collected directly from firsthand experience

Question 35

correlation

Answer 35

when a change in one variable coincides with a change in another variable, but does not necessarily indicate causation

Question 36

participant observation:

Answer 36

when a researcher immerses herself in a group or social setting in order to make observations from an “insider” perspective

Question 37

ethnography

Answer 37

participating and observing thinking and behavior in a social setting

Question 38

case study

Answer 38

in-depth analysis of a single event, situation, or individual

Question 39

experiment

Answer 39

the testing of a hypothesis under controlled conditions

Question 40

experimental group

Answer 40

(one of two groups that) is exposed to the independent variable(s); the control group is not

Question 41

control group

Answer 41

(one of two groups that) is not exposed to the independent variable(s); the experimental group is

Question 42

Hawthorne effect

Answer 42

when study subjects behave in a certain manner due to their awareness of being observed by a researcher

Question 43

secondary data analysis

Answer 43

using data collected by others and applying new interpretations

Question 44

nonreactive research

Answer 44

using secondary data, does not include direct contact with research subjects and does not alter or influence people’s behaviors

Question 45

content analysis

Answer 45

applying a systematic approach to record and value information gleaned from secondary data as it relates to the study at hand

Question 46

What are the 6 steps of the scientific method?
(obj 2.2.1)

Question 47

What are the differentiations between the four kinds of sociological research methods?
(obj 2.2.2)

Question 48

What is the appropriateness of specific research approaches/methods for specific topics?
(obj 2.2.3)