Week 3: Methods, Methologies & Ethics

Question 1

Positivist Sociology

Answer 1

Study of society that is based on science, logical system that develops knowledge from direct and systematic observations ( assessment strategy used to document behaviour, activities, knowledge and skills)

Question 2

Positivist Sociology can also be called -

Answer 2

Empirical Sociology- where knowledge can be gained from what our senses tell us, careful observation

Question 3

Concept

Answer 3

Mental visualization that represents some part of the world in a simplified form
- where sociologists label certain concepts of social life, like their income, power and culture

Question 4

Variable

Answer 4

A concept whose value changes from case to case
- like we can all be classified with the social class (lower, middle, upper, working class) depending on the case

Question 5

Measurement

Answer 5

• Describing and ascribe (to say/ to think) the meaning of facts, concepts we are investigating
• Determining the value of a variable in an investigation

Question 6

Descriptive Statistics: Mean, Median, Mode

Answer 6

Mean = Average
Median = the score in the middle
Mode = the most frequent value

It’s used to categorize large amount of people in the social class

Question 7

Reliability

Answer 7

Consistency in measurement

Question 8

Validity

Answer 8

The accuracy of the measurement

Question 9

Correlation

Answer 9

A relationship in which two variables change tgt

Question 10

Spurious Correlation

Answer 10

False relation between two or more variables that is caused by some other variable

Question 11

Objectivity

Answer 11

Must go above and beyond to reduce bias

Question 12

Value Relevant vs Value Free

Question 13

Social Norms

Answer 13

Rules that define correct behaviour in society

Question 14

Method

Answer 14

A systematic plan and process for collecting data and carrying out research

Question 15

Methodology

Answer 15

System of methods used in a particular study of activity

Question 16

Interpretive Sociology

Answer 16

The importance of meaning and action when studying social trends and problems
- we attach meaning to everything

Question 17

The importance of ‘Meaning’

Answer 17

• peoples understanding of their actions and their surroundings
• reality is subjective
• qualitative data
• subjective meaning

Question 18

Weber’s Concept of Verstehen

Answer 18

German word form “understanding”

Question 19

Critical Sociology

Answer 19

The study of society that focuses on the need for social change

Question 20

Structural Functionalism

Answer 20

Complex system whose parts work together to promote unity and stability

Question 21

Positivist Orientation

Answer 21

Structural Functional Approach

Question 22

Interpretive Orientation

Answer 22

Symbolic interaction approach

Question 23

Symbolic Interaction approach

Answer 23

An organization theory that defines how group members uses symbols and how symbols affect their personality, rationale and collective processes

Question 24

Critical Orientation

Answer 24

Social Conflict Approach

Question 25

Social Conflict (theory) Approach

Answer 25

Sees social life as a competition and focuses on the distribution of resources, power and inequality

Question 26

Experiment

Answer 26

Investigating the causes and affect under highly controlled conditions
- testing hypothesis
(Like the Stanford Prison Experiment)

Question 27

Hypothesis

Answer 27

• educated guess
• a statement of a possible relationship between two or more variables

Question 28

Survey

Answer 28

A research method in which the subjects respond to a series of statements or questions on a questionnaire or in an interview.
- population vs sample
- questionnaires vs interviews

Question 29

Participant Observation

Answer 29

A research method in which investigators systematically observe people in their natural environment
- exploratory and descriptive

Question 30

Putting it all tgt

Answer 30

What is your topic?
What have others already learned?
What, exact,y are your questions?
What will you need to carry out the research?
Are there ethical concerns?
What method will you use?
How will you record your data?
What do the data tell you?
What are your conclusions?
How can you share what you’ve learned?

Question 31

Existing Resources

Answer 31

Data gathered by the government agencies
- I.e Statistics Canada