| A | B |
|---|
| survey | research method in which people respond to questions |
| population | a group of people with certain specified characteristics |
| sample | a group of people that represent a larger population |
| representative sample | a sample that accurately reflects the chracteristics of the population as a whole |
| questionnaire | a written set of questions to be answered by a research participant |
| interview | a survey method in which a trained researcher asks questions and records the answers |
| closed-ended questions | questions a person must answer by choosing from a limited, predetermined set of responses |
| open-ended questions | questions a person is to answer in his or her own words |
| secondary analysis | using precollected information for data collections and research purposes |
| field research | research that takes place in a natural (nonlaboratory) setting |
| case study | intensive study of a single group, incident, or community |
| participant observation | a case study where the researcher becomes a member of the group being studied |
| mode | number that occurs most frequently |
| median | number that divides a series of values in half |
| mean | average |
| multiple causation | the belief that an event occurs as a result of several factors working in combination |
| causation | the belief that events occur in predictable ways and that one event leads to another |
| variable | a characteristic that is subject to change |
| quantitative variable | a characteristic that can be measured numerically |
| qualitative variable | a characteristic that is defined by its presence or absence in a category |
| independent variable | a characteristic that causes something to occur |
| dependent variable | a characteristic that reflects a change |
| intervening variable | a variable that changes the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable |
| correlation | a measure of the realationship between two variables |
| negative correlation | variables change in opposite directions |
| positive correlation | both variables move in the same directions |
| spurious correlations | a relationship between two variables that is actually caused by a third factor |
| scientific method | the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses |
| hypothesis | testable statement of relationships among variables |
| Survey Disadvantage | Expensive to produce and distribute |
| Survey Advantage | responses can be easily compared |
| Secondary Analysis Advantage | Inexpensive |
| Secondary Anaylsis Disadvantage | Outdated information |
| Survey Advantage | Inofrmation on large numbers of people |
| Case Study Advantage | Provides depth of understanding from group members' viewpoint |
| Case Study Disadvantage | Takes lots of time |
| Qualitative Research | Case study |
| Quantitative Research | Survey, Secondary Analysis, and Experiments |
| Case Study Advantage | Unexpected discoveries and new insights can be incorporated |
| Case Study Disadvantage | Presence of researcher can influence results |
| Case Study Advantage | Permits the study of social behavior not feasible with quantitative methods |
| Case Study Disadvantage | Hard to duplicate |
| Case Study Disadvantage | Difficult to generalize findings from one group to another group |
| Sociology Code of Ethics | Show Objectivity |
| Sociology Code of Ethics | Protecting the rights, privacy, integrity, dignity, and freedom of research subjects |
| Sociology Code of Ethics | Report findings and methods truthfully |
| Standards for showing Causation | Two variable must be correlated |
| Standards for showing Causation | All other possible factors must be taken into account |
| Standards for showing Causation | A change in the independent variable must occur before a change in the dependent variable can occur. |
