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Details Title: Popenoe Chapter 2 Description: TERMS of The Process of Sociological Research Total Flash Cards: 34 Created: 02/09/2005 22:55:52	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term Methodology Definition The system of procedures that helps sociologists develop knowledge Term Empirical Method Definition The approach to knowledge that involves using the human senses to make observations Term Descriptive Studies Definition Research designed to find out what is happening to whom, when and where. Term Explanatory Studies Definition Research that answers the questions "why" and "how" Term Concept Definition A generalization, a way of labeling simila things or processes Term Variables Definition concepts that refer to change across time or space, or from one person or group to another. Term Operationalizing the Vairiable Definition Translating gereral concepts into specific, measurable vaiables. Term Hypothesis Definition A tentative statement about the way in which two or more variables are related. Term Empirical Generalization Definition A statement, supported by empirical evidence (i.e. evidence based on observation) , about the relationship between two or more variables Term Theory Definition A comprehensive explanation of observed relationships among variables Term Independent Variable Definition A variable that is thought to be the cause or explanation of one or more dependent variables Term Dependent Variable Definition A variable that is thought to be the efect of one or more independent variables Term Spurious Correlations Definition Correlations that are not based on casual connections Term Multivariate Analysis Definition REsearch in which more than two variables are involved. The search for cause and effect focuses on finding the relative importance of a number of variables that together have an overall effect Term Validity Definition The degree to which a study or research instrument actually measures what it is attempting to measure Term Reliability Definition The degree to which a study or research instrument provides consistently accurate Term Quantitiative Methods Definition Research methods designed to study variables that can be measured in numbers Term Qualitative Methods Definition Researchmethods designed to describe reality in accurate verbal terms rather than in numbers Term Survey Definition The systematic questioning of large numbers of people about their opinions, attitudes, or behavior Term Population Definition In research the total group of people to be studied Term sample Definition In a research study, a limited number of cases selected to represent the entire population being studied Term Random Sampling Definition A sample chosen so that every member of the population has an equal chance of being picked for inclusion Term Controlled Experiment Definition An eperiment that is designed to isolate the specific effect of the independent variable by controlling the effects of other variables that may influence the dependent variable Term Experimental Group Definition The group into which the independent variable is introduced Term Control Group Definition The group that is not exposed to the independent variable and is compared with the ecperimental group Term Nonparticipant Observation Definition A research method in which the observes does not take part in the activities or social situation under study. Term Participant Observation Definition Aresearch method in which the observer is personally involved in the social situations under observation. Term Case Study Definition A detaled record of a single event, person, or social grouping Term Secondary Analysis Definition The reanalysis or previously collected data Term Content Analysis Definition A research strategy that involves examining any form of communication and applying it to a systematic coding scheme to identify issues of interest to the researcher. Term Comparative Analyses Definition Research involving the comparison of several social systems or of the same social system as more than one time. Term Replication Definition Repetition of the same experiment with different population samples to test the validity of the results of the original study Term Community Studies Definition A case study focusing on an entire communtiy Term Hawthorne Effect Definition Changes in the behavior of reserch subjects resulting from their knowledge that they are being studied.