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The Social World > Week 2 - How sociologists do research > Flashcards

Week 2 - How sociologists do research Flashcards

1
Q

What type of research explores complex phenomena through detailed, narrative data?

A

Qualitative

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2
Q

Interviews, focus groups, ethnography, content analysis are the methods used in ____ research?

A

Qualitative

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3
Q

What type of research is this (Quantitative or Qualitative)?
Strengths: Provides deep insights, rich detail, and context.
Limitations: Limited generalizability, subjective interpretation.

A

Qualitative

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4
Q

What type of research examines relationships between variables using numerical data.

A

Quantitative

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5
Q

What type of research uses these methods: Surveys, experiments, statistical analysis.

A

Quantitative

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6
Q

What type of research is this (Quantitative or Qualitative)
Strengths: Generalizable results, objective measurement, statistical rigour.
Limitations: May oversimplify complex issues, lacks contextual depth.

A

Quantitative

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7
Q

The process of gathering raw information from various sources using different methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations).

A

Collecting Data

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8
Q

The process of interpreting the collected data to identify patterns, relationships, and insights. This involves using statistical tools, coding qualitative data, and drawing conclusions.

A

Analysing Data

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9
Q

What are some research methods?

A

surveys
interviews
experiments
content analysis
ethnography
observations

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10
Q

______ are guidelines and principles that govern the conduct of research to ensure integrity, quality, and respect for research participants.

A

Research ethics

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11
Q

Promoting _____ ensures that research contributes positively to society and does not cause harm.

A

Social Responsibility

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12
Q

If you comply with ________ then you are adhering to legal and institutional requirements governing research practices.

A

Regulations

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13
Q

Maintaining _____ upholds the credibility and trustworthiness of the research process and findings.

A

Integrity

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14
Q

_____ includes fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, which undermine the validity of research findings and erode public trust in scientific research.

A

Misconduct

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15
Q

Researchers should handle _______ by adhering to established ethical guidelines, seeking advice from ethical review boards, and prioritising the welfare and rights of participants.

A

Ethical Dilemmas

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16
Q

_______ review research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met, protecting participants and ensuring the ethical conduct of the research.

A

Ethical review boards (Institutional Review Boards)

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17
Q

_______ protects participants’ private information from unauthorised access or disclosure, maintaining trust and the integrity of the research process.

A

Confidentiality

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18
Q

Research ethics promote honesty, transparency, and accuracy in data collection, analysis, and reporting, which is essential for credible and reliable scientific knowledge and ensure the _______ of research

A

Integrity

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19
Q

_______ is the process of providing participants with all necessary information about the study and obtaining their voluntary agreement to participate, ensuring they are fully aware of potential risks and benefits.

A

Informed consent

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20
Q

According to Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy (2011, pp. 108-111), sociological research tends to follow a series of steps, what are they ?

A
  1. Selecting a topic
  2. Defining the problem
  3. Reviewing the literature
  4. Formulating a hypothesis
  5. Choosing a research method
  6. Collecting the data
  7. Analysing the results
  8. Sharing the results
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21
Q

After sociologists select a topic to do research they need to define a ______

A

Problem

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22
Q

Step number _____ in sociological research involves choosing a topic of interest. This could be inspired by current events, personal experiences, theoretical gaps, or societal issues that need exploration.

A

1 (Selecting a Topic)

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23
Q

What step narrows the research topic down to a specific problem or question and involves clearly determining what aspect of the topic the research will focus on and what the researcher aims to discover or explain.

A
  1. Defining the Problem
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24
Q

______ helps to understand what is already known, identify gaps, and situate the new research within the existing body of knowledge.

A

Reviewing the Literature

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25
Q

When sociologists undertake a ______ they normally gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. It will help sociologists ascertain what has or hasn’t been studied and can expand or sharpen how they think about a topic

A

literature review

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26
Q

A ______ predicts a relationship between or among variables, factors that change or vary from one person or situation to another

A

hypothesis

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27
Q

Hypothesis will benefit from having ______

A

operational definitions

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28
Q

‘the ways in which a researcher measures a variable’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p.110)

A

Operational Definitions

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29
Q

Based on the literature review, the researcher formulates a ______ which is a testable statement predicting the relationship between variables. It provides a clear focus for the study and guides the research design.

A

hypothesis

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30
Q

________ are precise explanations of how abstract concepts or variables will be measured and observed in a specific study. They ensure clarity, precision, and reproducibility in research, enabling sociologists to collect reliable data and draw valid conclusions.

A

Operational Definitions

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31
Q

The emphasis is placed in measurement, the use of statistics and numbers in ________ research methods.

A

Quantitative

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32
Q

The emphasis is placed on observing, describing and interpreting people’s behaviour in ________ research methods.

A

Qualitative

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33
Q

The researcher selects the most appropriate method for collecting data to test the hypothesis. Common _____ in sociology include surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, and secondary data analysis.

A

(5. Choosing a) Research Method

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34
Q

This step involves implementing the chosen research method to gather empirical data. It is crucial to ______ systematically and ethically, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

A
  1. Collecting the Data
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35
Q

_______ refers to the extent to which a research study accurately measures or reflects the concept it claims to measure. It concerns whether the conclusions drawn from the study are meaningful and relevant.

A

Validity

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36
Q

The extent to which the study accurately measures the relationship between variables without interference from other factors.

A

Internal Validity

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37
Q

The extent to which the findings of a study can be generalised to other populations, settings, or times.

A

External Validity

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38
Q

The extent to which the operationalisation of a concept (e.g., a measurement or manipulation) accurately represents the theoretical concept being studied.

A

Construct Validity

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39
Q

_____ refers to the consistency or stability of a measure or research finding.

A

Reliability

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40
Q

It indicates the degree to which the same results would be obtained if the study were repeated under similar conditions.

A

Reliability

41
Q

In sociological research, ______ensures that the methods used to collect data yield consistent results over time and across different researchers or observers.

A

Reliability

42
Q

Qualitative studies will try to establish their _____. This refers to the extent to which there is sound reasoning in the way qualitative studies are designed, carried out and reported

A

Rigour

43
Q

______ in sociological research refers to the thoroughness and quality of the research process. It involves ensuring that the study is conducted with precision, attention to detail, and adherence to methodological standards.

A

Rigour

44
Q

After data collection, the researcher ______ to determine whether they support the hypothesis. This involves using statistical or qualitative analysis techniques to interpret the data and identify patterns or relationships.

A

(7.) Analyses the Results

45
Q

The final step is to ________ with the academic community and the public. This can be done through publishing in academic journals, presenting at conferences, or writing reports. Sharing results allows others to evaluate the research, replicate the study, and build on its findings.

A

(8.) Share the results/research findings

46
Q

________ require openness (sharing findings with the scientific community), honesty and truth. They clearly forbid the falsification of results.

A

Research ethics

47
Q

The (a)_______ I could form about road rage is how societal factors such as urban living conditions, stress, and social inequalities contribute to the manifestation of aggressive driving behaviours among motorists. My (b)______ would be that individuals from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds may be more likely to exhibit road rage due to heightened stress levels and limited resources for coping with frustrations on the road.

A

a) sociological problem
b) hypothesis

48
Q

The article by _________ underscores the influence of urban living stresses, competitive work environments, and lack of time on drivers’ experiences of road rage, providing empirical evidence that supports the hypothesised relationship between societal factors and aggressive driving behaviours.

A

Lupton (2002) titled ‘Road rage: drivers’ understandings and experiences’

49
Q

If studying road rage ______, I’d explore how individuals experience and interpret it in their social and personal contexts, using interviews, observations, and thematic analysis to uncover nuanced insights into its emotional and social dynamics.

A

qualitatively

50
Q

A _______ involves ‘the collection of data by having people answer a series of questions’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 112)

A

survey

51
Q

Quantitative studies in sociology have a tendency to rely on the use of _____

A

surveys

52
Q

______ refers to ‘the target group that you are going to study’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 113)

A

Population

53
Q

A ________ refers to ‘the individuals intended to represent the population to be studied’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 113)

A

sample

54
Q

‘A _______ is where everyone in the target population has the same chance of being included in the study’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 113)

A

random sample

55
Q

‘A _______ is from selected subgroups of the target population in which everyone in those subgroups has an equal chance of being included in the research’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 113)

A

stratified random sample

56
Q

A randomised selection of cat owners who take their cats to a specific Veterinarian clinic in Adelaide in a specified time period is an example of what ?

A

a stratified randomised sample

57
Q

______ sampling is a non-probability sampling technique used in qualitative research to identify and recruit participants through existing social networks.

A

Snowball

(it’s useful for accessing hard-to-reach or specific populations)

58
Q

A sampling method where initial participants are chosen, who then refer other potential participants from their social network

A

Snowball sampling (because it creates a ‘snowball’ effect)

59
Q

‘______- allow a larger number of people to be sampled at a lower cost, but the researchers lose control of the data collection.’

A

self-administered questionaires

60
Q

Consistency in how study questions are administered is an advantage of ________

A

structured interviews

61
Q

‘effects that interviewers have on respondents that lead to biased answers’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 116)

A

Interviewer bias
(disadvantage of structured interviews)

62
Q

questions are questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words and provide detailed information.

A

Open

63
Q

_____ questions are questions that offer respondents a limited set of predetermined responses.

A

Closed

64
Q

_____ questions encourage respondents to provide detailed and subjective responses, allowing for richer qualitative data.

A

Open

65
Q

_____ questions provide structured data with easily quantifiable responses, making them suitable for statistical analysis and comparisons.

A
66
Q

Which ones are OPEN questions?
a) Do you own a car?
b) What are your hobbies?
c) Did you enjoy the movie ?
d) How do you feel about the new company policy?

A

b) What are your hobbies?
c) Did you enjoy the movie ?

67
Q

Which ones are CLOSED questions ?
a) Are you satisfied with your current job?
b) Can you tell me about your favourite vacation?
c) How did you learn to cook?
d) Have you ever travelled before?

A

a) Do you own a car ?
d) Have you ever travelled before?

68
Q

_____ refers to ‘a feeling of trust between researchers and the people they are studying’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 116)

A

Rapport

69
Q

______ is ‘research in which the researcher participates in a research setting while observing what is happening in that setting’ (Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 116)

A

Participant Observation

70
Q

Geoff Pearson studied football hooliganism to explore its social dynamics, motivations, and group behaviours, using ethnographic methods to uncover underlying factors like masculinity and group identity. His research provided insights into the cultural and social influences driving football-related violence in the UK. His study is an example of _______

A

Participant Observation

71
Q

_____ refers to the use of existing data collected by others for new research purposes.

A

Secondary analysis

72
Q

In sociology, ______ are written or recorded materials that provide evidence or information relevant to a research topic, such as newspapers, government reports, or personal diaries.

A

documents

73
Q

____ refers to a statistical relationship between two or more variables, indicating how they tend to change together.

A

Correlation

74
Q

______ refers to the relationship between cause and effect, where one variable (the cause) directly influences changes in another variable (the effect).

A

Causation

75
Q

______ is when two variables are present with one another.
Example #1: the more people drink, the more people tend to get hangovers
Example #2: the more people pat their cat’s belly, the more people get scratches on their arms.

A

Correlation

76
Q

______ means that change in one variable is caused by another variable’

A

Causation

77
Q

What are the three conditions necessary for causation?

A
  1. correlation
  2. temporal priority
  3. no spurious correlation
78
Q

_____ in sociology refers to the principle that in order to establish causality between two variables, the cause must precede the effect in time.

A

Temporal priority

79
Q

______ is a crucial criterion in determining causation in social research, ensuring that changes in the dependent variable can be attributed to changes in the independent variable.

A

Temporal priority

80
Q

For a causal relationship to be established, other underlying variables need to be ruled out so that there is no __________

A

spurious correlation

81
Q

_______ refers to a statistical relationship between two variables that is actually caused by a third variable. In other words, the apparent correlation between the two variables is misleading because it is not a direct causal relationship but rather an indirect association influenced by a common factor.

A

Spurious correlation

82
Q

Researchers can produce _______ results in how they construct their sample. E.g if you want to engineer a finding that says the most despised team in the AFL is Port Adelaide Power, you might look to interview members of the Adelaide Crows supporters club

A

misleading

83
Q

______ research refers to studies or investigations that systematically favour certain outcomes or perspectives due to flaws in the research design, data collection methods, or analysis.

A

Biased

84
Q

Researchers only select schools in affluent neighbourhoods to participate, excluding schools in lower-income areas. This selection _____ could lead to results that overestimate the program’s impact because it does not account for the diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and challenges faced by students in different settings.

A

bias

85
Q

Modernity is a longstanding research theme in sociology. Modernity is commonly associated not only with industrialization, but also with the development of science.

True or False?

A

True

86
Q

If ‘gender’ is considered a macro research topic within sociology, which of these research topics is the most micro?

a)The role of women in communism.

b)The role of gender in the theory of intersectionality.

c)The influence of gender relations on sleep disruptions experienced by older women in the UK.

A

c)The influence of gender relations on sleep disruptions experienced by older women in the UK.

87
Q

In an interview-based study in sociology on the topic of smoking cigarettes in Australia, which of these questions would you regard as being the most open-ended?

a)Are cigarette smokers perceived by their non-smoking counterparts to be more self-centred, or are they thought to be more wasteful with their money?

b)How are cigarette smokers affected by the taxes in Australia that are applied to tobacco products?

c)Between people living in urban areas and people who reside in rural areas, who do you think is more likely to smoke cigarettes?

A

b)How are cigarette smokers affected by the taxes in Australia that are applied to tobacco products?

88
Q

Sociology formally established itself as a discipline in the mid-17th century.

True or False?

A

False

(early to mid-19th century)

89
Q

Sociology formally established itself as a discipline in the ___ century. This period saw the emergence of foundational sociological thinkers such as Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, and Emile Durkheim, who laid the groundwork for sociology as a distinct academic discipline separate from philosophy and other social sciences.

A

19th

90
Q

A good example of a person using their sociological imagination is when they draw a connection between their personal inability to find an affordable house to rent in Adelaide and:

a) the cultural discourse surrounding certain kinds of public housing in South Australia.

b) their own perceived sense of laziness at not having lodged more rental applications at other properties.

A

a) the cultural discourse surrounding certain kinds of public housing in South Australia.

91
Q

The concept of social structure expresses the idea that social change is a regular occurrence.

True or False?

A

False
(it implies a degree of stability and order rather than constant change)

92
Q

The concept of ______ refers to the stable patterns of social relationships and institutions that shape society over time. It implies a degree of stability and order rather than constant change.

A

social structure

93
Q

________ are studies designed to help establish cause and effect. This research method involves the identification of an ‘independent variable (something that causes a change in another variable)’ and a ‘dependent variable (the variable that might change)’ (Henslin, Possamai, & Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 118).

A

Experiments

94
Q

______ is the study of recorded sources, which can include written texts of various kinds, but also encompasses audio and video recordings.

A

Documentary research

95
Q

_________ is ‘research in which the researcher participates in a research setting while observing what is happening in that setting’ (Henslin, Possamai, & Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 116). This method does not likely lead to generalizable findings.

A

Participant observation

96
Q

______ is the ‘analysis of data that has been collected by other researchers’ (Henslin, Possamai, & Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 117). This method indicates that research does not always need to involve the collection of new data.

A

Secondary analysis

97
Q

______ involve ‘direct questioning of respondents’ (Henslin, Possamai, & Possamai-Inesedy 2011, p. 114). This questioning can involve close or open-ended questions.

A

Interviews

98
Q
A

The Social World (6 decks)

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