Week 2: Sociological Research

Question 1

Ethics

Answer 1

The honourable normal principles that govern sociological research, including respect for the privacy and the rights and concerns of the research subjects

Question 2

Informed consent

Answer 2

The process whereby fully informed research subjects indicate their understanding and acceptance of the research conditions and formally agree to be studied. Informed consent includes the understanding that permission can be revoked at a later time

Question 3

Methodological foundation

Answer 3

Operationalization, variables relationships, values in research ethics

Question 4

Research Methods

Answer 4

Quantitative & Qualitative [+ mixed methods]

Question 5

Epistemology

Answer 5

Informs research methods

Question 6

Methodology

Answer 6

Is the system of methods that a researcher uses to gather data on a particular question, it has its philosophical orientation

Question 7

Research Orientation

Answer 7

• Positivist Sociology
• Interpretive Sociology
• Critical Sociology

Question 8

Positivist Tradition

Answer 8

• The study of society through the systematic observation of social behavior
• Empirical data, helps us to uncover personal truths in society
• Uncover casual relationships governing social behaviour
• Tend to ask close-ended questions (ex. Do & Does)

Question 9

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 9

• Moves from general to specific
• The hypothesis can be tested, but you have to start with a theory

Question 10

Deductive Reasoning Steps

Answer 10

1. Begin with theory - identify a suitable theory and break down the core
2. Rephrase in the form of RQ + hypothesis
3. Select suitable methods to test the theory
   - Form conclusions based on the data (support or falsify)

Question 11

A Note on Falsification

Answer 11

• Adds to our deductive knowledge = how to come to conclusions about the world
• Positivism = verification
• Falsification = hypotheses/theories are falsified
  (Examples of a shift in thinking: schools cause inequality)

Question 12

Dependent Variable

Answer 12

• CG: DV [Pre-test] - - - - - - - - -DV [Post-test]
• EG: DV [Pre-test] - - - -[____] - - - -DV [Post-test]

Question 13

Quantitative Methods: Experiments

Answer 13

• Controlled environment to isolate effects of one variable, category, concept
• Hypothesis Testing

Question 14

Quantitative Methods: Survey

Answer 14

Closed-ended questions that participants respond to

Question 15

Concepts

Answer 15

A construct representing some part of the world in simplified form (ex. economy, social class, gender)

Question 16

Variable

Answer 16

A concept whose value changes situationally
- Operationalization
- Independent variable
- Dependent variable

Question 17

Variable Social class

Answer 17

1. Types of goods that individuals can afford, like a housekeeper.
2. Income, occupation, education, geography, and goods
3. Someone with high education but with low income
4. Low education: high income
5. High income: low education

Question 18

Words of Caution

Answer 18

Correlation vs. Causation
(Two variables change in an opposing direction)

Question 19

Cause and Effect

Answer 19

1. There must be a demonstrated correlation
2. The independent variable must occur before the dependent variable
3. There is no evidence of a spurious correlation between the two

Question 20

Reliability

Answer 20

Consistency in a measurement

Question 21

Validity

Answer 21

Measuring what you intend to measure