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Study Guide: Exam 1
Analysis of existing data |
Type of unobtrusive research that relies on data gathered by someone else for some other purpose. |
Content Analysis |
Form of unobtrusive research that studies the context of recorded messages, i.e. books, speeches, poems, songs, t.v. shows, websites, and advertisements. |
Dependent Variable |
Variable that is assumed to be caused by or change as a result of the independent variable. |
Empirical Research |
Research that operates from the ideological position, that questions about human behavior can only be answered through controlled systemic observations in the real world. Seeks generalizability, uses method to understand the world. Systemic controlled theoretical basis for study. EX. data |
Experiment |
Research method designed to elicit some sort of behavior, typically conducted under closely controlled lab circumstances. Can determine causal. |
Field Research |
Humphries (Tea Room Trade) Direct observation of people in their natural settings, researcher observes events as they actually occur. (Qualitative-no numerical info, not generalizable) Advantage: gives you the meat, detailed descriptions, being there/presence. Disadvantage: Not cost effective, cant replicate, time consuming. |
Historical Analysis |
Form of social research that relies on existing historical documents as a source of data. |
Hypothesis |
Researchable prediction that specifies the relationship between two or more variables. |
Incorrigible Position |
Unquestioned cultural belief that cannot be proved wrong no matter what happens to dispute it. |
Independent Variable |
Independent Variable |
Indicator |
Measurable event, characteristic, or behavior, thought to reflect a particular concept. |
Moral Entrepreneurs |
Groups that work to have their moral concerns translated into law. |
Nonparticipant Observation |
Form of field research in which the observer observes people without directly interacting with them and without letting them know that they are being observed. |
Participant Observation |
Form of field research in which the researcher interacts with subjects, sometimes hiding his or her own identity. |
Probabilistic |
Capable only of identifying those forces that have high likelihood, but not a certainty, of influencing human action. Looks at likelihood of an event occurring. |
Qualitative Research |
Sociological research based on the collection of nonnumeric information (text, written words, phrases, symbols, observations) that describes people, actions, or events in social life. Not generalizable, ex. interview, focus group, field research. |
Quantitative Research |
Sociological research based on the collection of numeric data that uses precise statistical analysis. (Used with empirical research) |
Reactivity |
A problem associated with certain forms of research in which the very act of intruding into people's lives may influence the phenomena being studied. |
Representative |
Typical of the whole population being studied |
Sample |
Subgroup chosen for a study because its characteristics approximate those of the entire population. |
Self-fulfilling Prophecy
|
Assumption or prediction that in itself causes the expected event to occur, thus seeming to confirm the prophecy's accuracy.
-Rosenthal and Jacobson (1968)
-Placebo/Nocebo (rubbed with regular leaf, broke out in rash) |
Social Construction of Reality |
Process through which members of a society discover, make known, reaffirm, and alter a collective version of facts, knowledge, "truth". |
Casual Research |
What we do everyday as we observe our surroundings and conclude what we see. |
Spurious Relationship |
A false association of two variables that is actually due to the effect of some third variable. |
Survey
|
Data collected through questionnaires or interviews.
Advantages: Large population, random representative samples, results can be generalized. |
Theory |
Set of statements or propositions that seeks to explain or predict a particular aspect of social life. |
Unobtrusive Research |
Research technique in which the researcher, without direct contact with the subjects, examines the evidence of social behavior that people create or leave behind. -No survey, use interview, analysis of existing data (census records-content analysis does not look at individual) |
Variable |
Any characteristic, attitude, behavior, or event that can take on two or more values or attributes. |
Visual Sociology |
Method of studying society that uses photographs, video recordings, and film either as a means of gathering data or as sources of data about social life. |
Dichotomy
|
Binary system: A whole is divided into two parts
Sex - Male / Female
Gender- Man/Masculine / Woman/Feminine |
Language
|
Vocabulary, jargon (use shorthand with people of the same knowledge, euphemisms (instead of saying fat, you would say someone is big boned)
Egocentric language: Using physical markers instead of north, south, east, west.
Words have meaning and are changed over time. |
Material |
Tea, tree, desk (physical stuff) |
Non Material |
Belief systems, customs (the way that you dress) |