Methods Ch 5 Terms

Front 1

Linear research path

Back 1

Research that proceeds in a clear, logical, step-by-step straight line

It is more characteristic of a quantitative than a qualitative approach to social research

Front 2

Nonlinear research path

Back 2

Research that proceeds in a circular, back-and-forth manner

It is more characteristic of a qualitative than a quantitative style to social research

Front 3

Variable

Back 3

A concept or its empirical measure that can take on multiple values

Front 4

Attributes

Back 4

The categories or levels of a variable

Front 5

Independent variable

Back 5

The first variable that causes or produces the effect in a causal explanation

Front 6

Dependent variable

Back 6

The effect variable that is last and results from the causal variable(s) in a causal explanation

Also the variable that is measured in the pretest and post-test and that is the result of the treatment in experimental research

Front 7

Intervening variable

Back 7

A variable that is between the initial causal variable and the final effect variable in a causal explanation

Front 8

Hypothesis

Back 8

The statement from a causal explanation or a proposition that has at least one independent and one dependent variable, but it has yet to be empirically tested

Front 9

Null hypothesis

Back 9

A hypothesis that says there is no relationship or association between two variables, or no effect

Front 10

Alternative hypothesis

Back 10

A hypothesis paired with a null hypothesis stating that the independent variable has an effect on a dependent variable

Front 11

Level of analysis

Back 11

A way to talk about the scope of a social theory, causal explanation, proposition, hypothesis, or theoretical statement

The range of phenomena it covers, or to which it applies, goes from social psychological (micro-level) to organizational (meso-level) to large-scale social structure (macro-level)

Front 12

Unit of analysis

Back 12

The kind of empirical case or unit that a researcher observes, measures, and analyzes in a study

Front 13

Ecological fallacy

Back 13

Something that appears to be a causal explanation but is not

It occurs because of a confusion about units of analysis

A researcher has empirical evidence about an association for large-scale units or huge aggregates but overgeneralizes to make theoretical statements about an association

Front 14

Reductionism

Back 14

Something that appears to be a causal explanation but is not, because of a confusion about units of analysis

A researcher has empirical evidence for an association at the level of individual behaviour or very small-scale units but overgeneralizes to make theoretical statements about very large-scale units

Front 15

Spuriousness

Back 15

A statement that appears to be a causal explanation but is not, because of a hidden, unmeasured, or initially unseen variable

The unseen variable comes earlier in the temporal order, and it has a causal impact on what was initially posited to be the independent variable as well as the dependent variable

Front 16

Simpson's paradox

Back 16

An error in explanation where apparent differences between groups tend to reverse or disappear when groups are combined

Front 17

Tautology

Back 17

An error in explanation that rests on circular reasoning

Front 18

Teleology

Back 18

An error in explanation that relies on the fulfillment of an ultimate purpose