Term
| Definition of Social Research |
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Definition
| Social research is a systematized investigation to gain new knowledge about social phenomenon and problems. Research of social sciences developed for the natural sciences originally, especially the utilization of observations as the foundation of knowledge. |
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Term
| Basic v. Applied Research |
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Definition
| Basic research: for the sake of research; adding to fundamental understanding of the social world. (often turns into applied) To describe/explain/predict/understand. Knowing “why” is critical for your research. (for creation of knowledge) |
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Definition
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Definition
1. To support decision making
2. To formulate action
3. To evaluate action |
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Term
| Descriptive v. Predictive v. Explanatory Research |
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Definition
Descriptive: geared toward describing patterns/trends
Predictive: geared towards being able to predict what people do
Explanatory: geared towards why patterns/ trends exist and why people are likely to do one thing or another |
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Term
| Problems with only using other ways of forming ideas about a topic: |
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Definition
Personal experience
Media
Ideology |
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Definition
| (is ideal) maintain neutrality, free from personal feelings or opinions through inter-subjectivity or recognized subjectivity and skepticism |
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| : the understanding that we are social beings with our own set of ideas and morals, they make impressions and biases and we must always work towards maintaining objectivity. |
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| using multiple lines of sight (research methods), enhances validity, ensures less bias. |
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| explanation of facts that align with observations |
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Term
Role of Theory in Research
-->Inductive Research |
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Definition
| doesn’t start with theory, uses observation to develop theory (more explanatory) [observation-pattern-tentative hypothesis-theory] |
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Role of Theory in Research
--->Deductive Research |
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Definition
| starts with theory, existing theory guides research design and analysis, research may be testing the theory or theory may provide framework for interpreting results [theory-hypothesis-observation-confirmation] |
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Term
Relationship between factors in research
Causality |
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Definition
| a change in one factor leads to a change in another factor |
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Term
Relationship between factors in research
Correlation |
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Definition
| a change in one factor coincides with a change in the other aka association |
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Term
Relationship between factors in research
Intervening variables |
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Definition
| variables: factors of interest in your study that can take on different values or measures ex: ice cream and bathing suit sales both rise, the intervening factor: weather. |
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Relationship between factors in research
Hypothesis: |
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Definition
| a testable statement about relationship between two or more factors |
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Relationship between factors in research
Spurious Relationship: |
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Definition
| when there is an intervening factor that effects to two variables studied. |
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Term
Methodological Approaches
Qualitative |
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Definition
Define: uses non-numerical data like texts, interviews, photos and recordings to help understand social life. (non-numerical)
Pros: examples and quotes (more detail, rich understanding of concept and process behind findings)
Cons: probably harder to get a sense of the bigger picture |
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Term
Methodological Approaches
Quantitative |
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Definition
Define: translates the social world into numbers, which can be studied mathematically
Pros: handy because of generalizability, statistically of findings, easy to project and easier to analyze
Cons: often hard to understand: lost in translation when reducing to numbers. |
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Term
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Definition
| what exactly do I mean by this variable (income – HH?, individual wages? Wages plus investments/child support/other sources?) |
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- how will I measure this?
Validity: measuring the variable intended
Reliability: consistent, measures variables correctly |
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Ethics in Research
Types of Harm |
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Definition
| Ethical behavior in research means not subjecting research subjects to ‘unreasonable’ physical, mental, legal or financial harm or risk thereof. |
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Term
| The Tearoom Trade - mid 1960’s, U Washington |
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Definition
| mid 1960’s, U Washington, took photos of license plates and found where they lived b/c of friend who worked at DMV. Came to house under guise and gathered demographic lives. Risk: financial, social and professional lives. Was a “lookout” and observer participant |
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Term
| Milgram’s Experiment on Obedience to Authority – 1961-1963, Yale: |
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Definition
| cause mental harm, no debriefing, people learned that they were willing to cause serious harm to someone else |
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Term
| The Tuskegee syphilis study – 1932-1972 US Public Health Service: |
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Definition
| observed the course of latent syphilis in black men thought black men were very sexualized, too ignorant to seek health care. 200 had syphilis and 100 controls. Men were not injected with syphilis. Treatment was withheld from men, were told they had bad blood and had constant spinal taps, x-rays, all sorts of tests, were told they were receiving treatment. In 1942, Penicillin was found to be a cure, though researchers asked for it to be withheld from these men. A lot of rules were put in to place, though African Americans were weary to trust public health and did not seek out services |
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Term
| The Stanford Prison experiment |
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Definition
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Term
| Institutional Review boards |
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Definition
review every project even if not vulnerable participants
Timing of review – at inception (beginning), annually, when any significant change in process is introduced
Balance of potential Harm with potential social benefit (within limitations of how much harm/type of harm could occur, standard of ‘reasonableness’ applied) |
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| Occupational Codes of Conduct |
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Definition
| – i.e. American Sociological Association, American Medical Association |
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Term
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Definition
| someone consenting to participate after explanation of risks and benefits of study, that it will be confidential, participation is totally voluntary and they may withdraw at any time or skip any question |
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Term
| Certificate of Confidentiality |
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Definition
| formally given from gov’t, protects recordings, research and findings from subpoena, you must prove the value of your research and must pursue. |
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Definition
people unable to give consent or speak for themselves; mentally disabled, youth, prisoners (may believe what they say could help/hurt them)
Types of Qualitative Research |
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Term
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Definition
| : both a part of qualitative and quantitative research |
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Term
| Secondary Data Analysis |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| random assignment to control and experimental groups |
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Term
| Quasi-experimental Design |
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Definition
| using comparison of control and experimental groups but not with random assignment |
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Term
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Definition
| using more than one of the above survey approaches |
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Definition
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Definition
| group of individuals studied over time |
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Definition
| selecting who I will study |
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Term
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Definition
| in order for data to be projectable, everyone must have an opportunity for being picked to interview. EPSEM= Equal Probability of Selection Method. Adequate sample size (# of cases in the sample) given accuracy needs. Make sample frame (a listing of all the cases in a population) Non-response bias- when people refuse to participate in a study/survey, are you missing out b/c there is something diff about these people who refuse? Is replacing them sufficient? |
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Term
| Reasons for choosing sample over population |
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Definition
Is it necessary
Affordable
Feasible |
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Adequate size to meet accuracy needs
Probability Sample: Equal Probability of Selection Method |
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Term
| Non-Probability Sampling Procedures (non-projectable): |
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Definition
Not EPSEM, not generalizable, try to find points of entry into population- trying to learn info to be able to find the people you are looking for. “local knowledge” These sampling procedures are not exclusive, many use some/all at the same time.
Convenience: most conveniently found, get any cases in any matter |
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Term
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Definition
| most conveniently found, get any cases in any matter convenient |
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Term
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Definition
| : get a preset # of cases in each of several predetermined categories that will reflect the diversity of the population, using haphazard methods. Trying to improve, setting quotas or #s of people in different categories. Covers diversity or population, gender, year, race |
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Term
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Definition
| get all cases that fit particular criteria, using various methods. Ex: looking for relocated families going through corporations that have relocated, realtors, newcomers association |
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Term
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Definition
| : get cases using referrals from one or a few cases, then referrals from those cases and so forth. Those studied may hang out with people like them who also qualify for study |
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Term
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Definition
| get cases until there is no additional information or new characteristics (often used with other sampling methods) Must be analyzing while researching, hearing the same ideas and responses, realizing you are done. |
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Definition
| get cases that will help reveal features that are theoretically important about a particular setting/topic. Making sure there are categories that speak to the theory you are working with. |
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Term
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Definition
| what is it and why does it matter? |
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Term
Presentation of self
Dramaturgy |
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Definition
| what is it, who coined phrase (Goffman) based on symbolic interactionism, meaning is created at the level of interaction. Human actions are dependent upon time, places and audience. How you act depends on your audience, how you define the situation, front stage, back stage. We are the audience in this interaction |
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Term
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Definition
| : when people act differently b/c they’re being studied |
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Term
| Standardized Interview Form(Qualitative) |
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Definition
| open ended, known areas of inquiry. Close ended: multiple choice |
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Term
| Unstandardized Interview Form(Qualitative) |
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Definition
| : ethnography, early interactions, learning vocabulary, key concepts, requires adaptability |
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Term
| Semi-standardized Interview Form(Qualitative) |
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Definition
| topic driven, flexible, may evolve toward more standardizations as # of interviews grows) |
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Definition
| Key to the research, must address |
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Definition
| different way of asking the same things, as probes and for validity |
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Definition
open ended (what else)
Probing ‘to the negative’ – until they say ‘that’s all’
Value of silence |
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Term
Literature Review – (not many questions)
What |
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Definition
| overview of key research already done on your study topic or related topics |
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Term
Literature Review
Why |
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Definition
To inform your own study through
Ideas for theory and concepts to use/look for
To know where your study fits in
To educate yourself and your reader on the topic |
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