Ch 2 - The Process And Problems Of Social Research

Front 1

Social Research Question

Back 1

A question about the social world that is answered through the collection and analysis of firsthand, verifiable, empirical data.

Front 2

Theory

Back 2

A logically interrelated set of propositions about empirical reality.

Front 3

Deductive Research

Back 3

The type of research in which a specific expectation is deduced from a general premise and is then tested.

Front 4

Inductive Research

Back 4

The type of research in which general conclusions are drawn from specific data.

Front 5

Research circle

Back 5

A diagram of the elements of the research process, including theories, hypotheses, data collection, and data analysis.

Front 6

Hypothesis

Back 6

A tentative statement about empirical reality involving a relationship between two or more variables. Example: The higher the poverty rate in a community, the higher the percentage of community residents who are homeless.

Front 7

Variable

Back 7

A characteristic or property that can vary (take on different values or attributes). Examples: poverty rate, percentage of community residents who are homeless.

Front 8

Dependent variable

Back 8

A variable that is hypothesized to vary depending on or under the influence of another variable. Example: percentage of community residents who are homeless.

Front 9

Independent variable

Back 9

A variable that is hypothesized to cause, or lead to , variation in another variable. Example: poverty rate.

Front 10

Direction of association

Back 10

A pattern in a relationship between two variables - that is, the value of a variable tends to change consistently in relations to change in the other variable.The direction of association can be either positive or negative.

Front 11

Inductive reasoning

Back 11

The type of reasoning that moves from the specific to the general.

Front 12

Anomalous

Back 12

Unexpected patterns in data that do not seem to fit the theory being proposed.

Front 13

Serendipitous

Back 13

Unexpected patterns in data, which stimulate new ideas or theoretical approaches.

Front 14

Cross-sectional research design

Back 14

A study in which data are collected at only one point in time.

Front 15

Longitudinal research design

Back 15

A study in which data are collected that can be ordered in time; also defined as research in which data area collected at two or more points in time.

Front 16

Individual unit of analysis

Back 16

A unit of analysis in which individuals are the source of data and the focus of conclusions.

Front 17

Group unit of analysis

Back 17

A unit of analysis in which groups are the source of data and the focus of conclusions.

Front 18

Trend (repeated cross-sectional) design

Back 18

A longitudinal study in which data are collected at two or more points in time from different samples of the same population.

Front 19

Panel design

Back 19

A longitudinal study in which data are collected from the same individuals - the panel - at two or more points in time.

Front 20

Cohort

Back 20

Individuals or groups with a common starting point.

Front 21

Cohort design

Back 21

A longitudinal study in which data are collected at two pr more points in time from individuals in a cohort.

Front 22

Unit of analysis

Back 22

The entities being studied, whose behavior is to be understood.

Front 23

Ecological fallacy

Back 23

An error in reasoning in which incorrect conclusions about individual-level processes area drawn from group-level data.

Front 24

Reductionist fallacy (reductionism)

Back 24

An error in reasoning that occurs when incorrect conclusions about group-level processes area based on individual-level data.

Front 25

Confidentiality

Back 25

Provided by research in which identifying information that could be used to link respondents to their responses is available only to designated research personnel for specific research needs.

Front 26

Institutional review board (IRB)

Back 26

A group of organizational and community representatives required by federal law to review the ethical issues in all proposed research that is federally funded, involves human subjects, or has any potential for harm to subjects.