Study of Sociology: Sociological Methods

Question 1

What consists of the Wheel of Science?

Answer 1

it is a cycle that goes from Theory –> Hypotheses –> Observations –> Empirical generalizations

Question 2

What is a Theory ?

Answer 2

– it consists of abstract constructs

– making interpretations

Question 3

What are hypotheses?

Answer 3

– specific measures aka variables

– statements about how two or more variables are expected to be related

• • Conceptualization and Operationalize
• • Independent and Dependent Variable

– there is a link between x and y but it happens indirectly

Question 4

What are the 3 criteria for “x causes y” ?

Answer 4

• • X has to actually be related to Y
• • must establish that X precedes Y
• • must be able to rule out all of the other explanations for why x and y are related
• —–> randomization is important

Question 5

T or F, experiments clear out the noise, specifically with random sampling

Answer 5

True, not eliminating noise can interfere w/ analyzing relationship between the variables

Question 6

What is a moderator? And what are the 3 types of moderation?

Answer 6

– moderator variable affects the strength and direction of that relationship.

– a moderator is different slopes for different groups

3 types

• • slopes are different for all groups and one is stronger
• • affects some and not others (slope)
• • one way for one group, opp. direction for other group (slope)

Question 7

What are observations?

Answer 7

• • collect data

- - this is where the induction begins

Question 8

Describe empirical generalizations.

Answer 8

– interpretation and inference

– relationship between two or more variables that has been observed across a range of conditions

Question 9

T or F, deduction tends to be macro and it can also be micro

Answer 9

True

Question 10

T or F, induction tends to be micro

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What is positivism and what is it associated with?

Answer 11

• • top - down (deduction)
• • surveys
• • standardized measures
• • reliability

– relies on empirical evidence, such as those found through experiments and statistics, to reveal information about how society functions

Question 12

What is interpretive and what is it associated with?

Answer 12

• • fieldwork
• • emergent measures
• • validity

– associated with interpretive

– interpretivism recommends using non-scientific, qualitative methods to analyze human behavior

Question 13

What is contexualization?

Answer 13

– defining the variable

Question 14

What is operationalization?

Answer 14

• • measurement

- - how will you measure your variables?

Question 15

What is a spurious relationship?

Answer 15

– two factors that appear casually related to one another but are not

Ex: ice cream and drownings –> more ice cream being bought didn’t cause more drownings however more ice cream being bought could mean that the weather is hotter meaning more people are swimming and with more people swimming more people will drown.

Question 16

What is an observational study?

Answer 16

– type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured

– cannot hold other variables constant

Question 17

Describe an experimental study.

Answer 17

– keep surrounding environment of the study the same ; clear out all other noise

– keep other variables the same and isolate the independent

– take a random sample and randomly select individuals to getting what is being studied

– isolate each individual so that external factors cannot affect the variables being studied

Question 18

T or F, in sociology you can eliminate external noise (factors)

Answer 18

False, you cannot, however you need to limit the effect on x and y (try to isolate though)

Question 19

T or F, the predictor is the independent

Answer 19

– true

Question 20

T or F, only report correlation

Answer 20

true

Question 21

What is the mediator?

Answer 21

– control variables

– 3rd variable (z) goes between x and y –> relationship between x and z and how z affects y

Ex: education levels vs. income

–> mediator – internship & latter job

basically, the effect of x on y depends on something else “z” – moderator

Question 22

What is top-down (deduction)

Answer 22

• • reality is objective
• • consistent –> not just a fluke
• • quantifiable –> stats
• • the answers to my questions have #’s assigned to them

Question 23

What is bottom-up (induction)

Answer 23

– interpretive –> reality is subjective

– we give the results meaning

– not consistent –> not the same across subjects

– qualitative; narrative

Question 24

T or F, both top-down (deduction) and bottom-up (induction) are correct

Answer 24

true

Question 25

What is realiability and validity like for deduction and induction?

Answer 25

deduction: high reliability but low validity
induction: high validity but low reliability

Question 26

what is secondary unobtrusive?

Answer 26

– based on quantified data

Question 27

What is content analysis?

Answer 27

– take any form of human communication that is being conveyed/communicated

– research tool used to determine the presence of certain words, themes, or concepts within some given qualitative data

Question 28

What is manifest content?

Answer 28

– what is in human communication

– what did you observe?

– what is you interpretation of what happened?

Question 29

T or F, one must protect the anonymity of the expt. subjects

Answer 29

True, ethics are important

Question 30

T or F, one can assign subjects to be placed in specific environment

Answer 30

True; ethics are important