sociology ch 2 Flashcards
altruism
behaviour intended to help others and done without any expectation of personal benefit
analysis
the process through which data are organized so that comparisons can be made and conclusions drawn
complete observation
research in which the investigator systematically observes a social process but does not take part in it
control group
subjects in an experiment who are not exposed to the independent variable, but later are compared to the subjects in the experimental group
deductive approach
research in which the investigators begins with a theory and then collects information and data to test the theory
dependent variable
a variable that is assumed to depend on or be caused by one or more other independent variables
descriptive study
research that attempts to describe social reality or provide facts about some group, practice or event
experiment
a research method involving a carefully designed test in which the researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects attitudes or behaviour
experimental group
subjects in an experiment who are exposed to the independent variable
explanatory study
research that attempts to explain relationships and to provide information on why certain events do or do not occur
field research
the study of social life in its natural setting; observing and interviewing people where they live, work and play.
hypothesis
tentative statements of the relationship between two or more concepts or variables
independent variable
a variable that is assumed to cause or determine a dependent variable
inductive approach
research in which the investigator collects information or data and then generates theories from the analysis of the data
interview
a research method using a data collection encounter in which an interviewer ask the respondent questions and records the answers
objective
free from distorted subjective (personal or emotional) bias
participant observation
a research method in which researchers collect systematic observations while being parts of the activities of the group they are studying
population
in a research study, those persons about whom we want to be able to draw conclusions
questionnaire
a research instrument containing a series of items to which subjects respond
random sample
a selection in which everyone in the target population has an equal chance of being chose. in other worlds, choice occurs by chance
reactivity
the tendency of experiment participants to change their behaviour in response to the presence of the researcher or to the fact that they know they are being studied
reliability
in sociological research, the extent to which a study or research instrument yields consistent results
replication
in sociological research, the repetition of the investigation in substantially the same way that it was originally conducted.
representative sample
a selection where the sample has the essential characteristics of the total population
research methods
specific strategies or techniques for conducting research
respondent
a person who provides data for analysis through an interview or questionnaire
sample
the people who are selected from the population to be studied
secondary analysis
a research method in which researchers use existing material and analyze data that originally was collected by others
survey
a research method in which a number of respondents are asked identical questions through a systematic questionnaire or interview
triangulation
using several different research methods, data sources, investigators and/or theoretical perspectives in the same study
unstructured interview
a research method involving extended, open-ended interaction between an interviewer and an interviewee
validity
in sociological research, the extent to which a study or research instrument accurately measures what it is supposed to measure
variable
in sociological research, any concept with measureable traits or characteristics that can change or vary from one person, time, situation, or society to another
