Soc Test 2

Front 1

Measurement

Back 1

units of analysis by categories to represent variable concepts

Front 2

Conceptualization

Back 2

the process of clarifying just what we mean by a concept

Front 3

Operationalization

Back 3

the process of defining specific ways to infer to absence, presence, or degree of presence of a phenomenon

Front 4

Indicators

Back 4

observations that we think reflect the presence or absence of the phenomenon to which a concept refers

Front 5

Index

Back 5

composite measure that is constructed by adding scores from several indicators

Front 6

Scales

Back 6

indexes in which some items are given more weight than others in the determination of the final measure of a concept

Front 7

Exhaustiveness

Back 7

the capacity of a variable’s categories to permit the classification of every unit of analysis

Front 8

Mutually exclusive

Back 8

the capacity of a variable’s categories to permit the classification of each unit of analysis into one and only one category

Front 9

Reliability

Back 9

the degree to which a measure yields consistent results

Front 10

Validity

Back 10

the degree to which a measure taps what we think it’s measuring

Front 11

Test-retest method

Back 11

a method test that involves comparing its results at one time with results, using the same subjects, at a later time

Front 12

Split-half method

Back 12

a method that divides the measures into two sets and determines whether the two sets are associated with each other

Front 13

Inter-observer

Back 13

a way that compares results obtained by one observer with results

Front 14

Inter-rater reliability

Back 14

obtained by another using exactly the same method. Also the same as another person checking you results with your same test

Front 15

Face validity

Back 15

the degree to which a measure seems to be measuring what it’s supposed to be measuring

Front 16

Content validity

Back 16

well a measure covers the range of meanings associated with a concept

Front 17

Predictive validity

Back 17

how well a measure is associated with future behaviors you’d expect it to be associated with

Front 18

Construct validity

Back 18

how well a measure of a concept is associated with a measure of another concept that some theory says the first concept should be associated with

Front 19

Nominal

Back 19

describes a variable whose categories have names. First level of measurement

Front 20

Ordinal

Back 20

describes a variable whose categories have names and whose categories can be rank-ordered in some sensible way. Second level

Front 21

Interval-Ratio

Back 21

describes a variable whose categories have names, whose categories may be rank-ordered in some sensible way and whose adjacent categories are a standard distance from one another and/or one of whose categories is an absolute zero point—a point which there is a complete absence of the phenomenon in question (SPSS uses this as scale level of measurement)

Front 22

Study designs (Non-experimental)

Back 22

a research strategy specifying (1) the number of cases to be studied, (2) the number of times data will be collected, (3) the number of samples that will be used, and (4) whether or not the researcher will try to control or manipulate the independent variable in some way

Front 23

Cross-sectional

Back 23

a study design in which data are collected for all the variables of interest using one sample at one time

Front 24

Longitudinal

Back 24

a research design in which data are collected at least two different times

Front 25

Panel study

Back 25

a study design in which data are collected about one sample at least two different times where the independent variable is not controlled by the researcher

Front 26

Panel attrition

Back 26

the loss of subjects from a study (disinterest, death, illness, or inability to locate)

Front 27

Panel conditioning

Back 27

the effect of repeatedly measuring variables on members of a panel study

Front 28

Trend study

Back 28

a study design in which data are collected at least two times with a new sample selected from the same population each time

Front 29

Cohort study

Back 29

a study that follows a cohort over time

Front 30

Case study

Back 30

a research study which focuses on one case (an individual, a group, an organization, and so on) within its social context at one point in time, even if that one point spans months or years

Front 31

Theory

Back 31

an explanation about how and why something is as it is

Front 32

Hypothesis

Back 32

a testable statement about how two or more variables are expected to be related to one another

Front 33

Research question

Back 33

a question about one or more topics or concepts which can be answered through research

Front 34

Basic research

Back 34

research designed to add to our fundamental understanding and knowledge of the social world regardless of practical or immediate implications

Front 35

Applied research

Back 35

research intended to be useful in the immediate future and to suggest action or increase effectiveness in some area

Front 36

Exploratory research

Back 36

ground-breaking research on a relatively unstudied topic or in a new area

Front 37

Descriptive research

Back 37

research designed to describe groups, activities, situations, or events

Front 38

Explanatory research

Back 38

research designed to explain why subjects vary in one way or another

Front 39

Deductive reasoning

Back 39

reasoning which moves from general to specific statements

Front 40

Pretest/Posttest

Back 40

Measurements of dependent variable before/after the stimulus is introduced

Front 41

Stimulus

Back 41

the experimental condition of the independent variable which is controlled or “introduced” by the researcher in an experiment

Front 42

Placebo

Back 42

simulated treatment of the control group which is designed to appear authentic

Front 43

Random assignment

Back 43

a technique for assigning members of the sample to experimental and control groups by chance to maximize the likelihood that the groups are similar at the beginning of the experiment

Front 44

Matching

Back 44

assigning members of the sample to groups by matching members of the sample on one or more characteristics and separating the pairs into two groups with one group randomly selected to become the experimental group (similar to quota sampling)

Front 45

Double-blind experiment

Back 45

neither the subjects nor research staff who interact with them knows the memberships of the experimental and control group (used to relieve experimenter expectation issues)

Front 46

Experimental design

Back 46

a study design in which the independent variable is controlled, manipulated, or introduced in some way by the researcher

Front 47

Classic experiment

Back 47

Experimental and control groups have random assignment or matching and there is some stimulus introduced or manipulated by the researcher with measurement of dependent variable at one or more points throughout

Front 48

Pretest-posttest control group experiment

Back 48

an experimental design with two or more randomly selected groups (an experimental and control group) in which the researcher controls or “introduces” the independent variable and measures the dependent variable at least two times (pretest and posttest)

Front 49

Posttest-only control group:

Back 49

an experimental design with no pretest

Front 50

Quasi-experimental design

Back 50

an experimental design which is missing one or more aspects of a true experiment, most frequently random assignment into experimental and control groups

Front 51

Natural experimental study

Back 51

a study using real-world phenomena which approximates an experimental design even though the independent variable is not controlled, manipulated, or introduced by the researcher

Front 52

Maturation

Back 52

the biological/psychological processes which cause people to change over time

Front 53

Testing effect

Back 53

the sensitizing effect on subjects of the pretest

Front 54

History

Back 54

the effects of general historical events on study participants

Front 55

Selection bias

Back 55

a bias in the way the experimental and control or comparison groups are selected which is responsible for pre-existing differences between the groups

Front 56

Generalizability

Back 56

the ability to apply the results of a study to groups or situations beyond those actually studied

Front 57

Field experiment

Back 57

an experiment done in the “real world” of classrooms, offices, factories, homes, playgrounds, and the like

Front 58

Laboratory research

Back 58

research done in settings which allows the researcher control over the conditions, such as in a university or medical setting

Front 59

Respondent

Back 59

participant in a survey who completes a questionnaire or interview

Front 60

Questionnaire

Back 60

Data collection instrument with questions and statements which are designed to solicit information from respondents

Front 61

Survey

Back 61

Study in which the same data, usually in the form of answers to questions, are collected from all members of the sample

Front 62

Structured interview

Back 62

Data collection method in which an interviewer reads a standardized list of questions to the respondent and records the respondent’s answers

Front 63

Types of questionnaires

Back 63

Self-administered, individually-administered, group-administered, mailed, Internet

Front 64

Types of interviews

Back 64

In-person, telephone, email

Front 65

Self-report method

Back 65

Another name for questionnaires and interviews because respondents are most often asked to report their own characteristics, behaviors, and attitudes or beliefs

Front 66

Measurement error

Back 66

The kind of error which occurs when the measurement is not an accurate portrayal of what we tried to measure—the giving of inaccurate answers to questions whether on purpose or by accident *

Front 67

Nonresponse error

Back 67

Errors which result from differences between nonresponders and responders to a survey*

Front 68

Response rate

Back 68

The percentage of the sample contacted which actually participated

Front 69

Interview schedule

Back 69

The list of questions read to a respondent in a structured or semi-structured interview (notice difference between interview guide)

Front 70

Cover letter

Back 70

The letter accompanying a questionnaire which explains the research and invites participation (not a consent document)

Front 71

Interviewer effect

Back 71

The change in a respondent’s behavior or answers which is the result of being interviewed by a specific interviewer

Front 72

Rapport

Back 72

A sense of interpersonal harmony, connection, or compatibility between an interviewer and a respondent

Front 73

Types of questions

Back 73

Open-ended, close-ended, probing, screening, contingency

Front 74

Questions to avoid

Back 74

Double-barreled, double-negative, leading, ambiguous, threatening

Front 75

Response categories

Back 75

Must be mutually exclusive and exhaustive (for close-ended questions)

Front 76

Coding

Back 76

The process of assigning data to categories—for qualitative, uses words or labels; for quantitative, uses numbers

Front 77

Vignettes

Back 77

Scenarios about people or situations which the researcher creates to use as a part of the data collection method

Front 78

Pilot test

Back 78

A preliminary draft of a set of questions which is tested before the actual data collection (used with a small sample similar to those of the actual study—think of it like a pre-test for the survey)

Front 79

Qualitative interview

Back 79

A data collection method in which an interviewer adapts and modifies the interview for each interviewee

Front 80

Semi-structured interview

Back 80

Interview with an interview guide containing primarily open-ended questions which can be modified for each interview

Front 81

Unstructured interview

Back 81

A data collection method in which the interviewer starts with only a general topic to be discussed and creates questions as the interaction proceeds

Front 82

Considerations

Back 82

Number of times each respondent is contacted, length of interview, degree of structure, number of interviewees and interviewers, whether or not to record, where and how to interview, language barriers

Front 83

Interview guide

Back 83

The list of topics to cover and the order in which to cover them that can be useful to guide less structured interviews (not an interview schedule)

Front 84

Group interview

Back 84

A data collection method with one interviewer and two or more interviewees (respondents may or may not know each other; the interviewer usually asks individuals questions)

Front 85

Focus group

Back 85

A type of group interview where participants converse with each other and have minimal interaction with a moderator (respondents should not know each other; researcher does not ask individual questions but encourages discussion and questions amongst the group members)

Front 86

Gatekeeper

Back 86

Someone who can get a researcher into a setting or facilitate access to participants—people who control access to others

Front 87

Informed consent form

Back 87

A statement which describes the study and the researcher and formally requests participation (always lists: risks & benefits, confidentially assurance, voluntariness, contact information for researcher(s) and institution, and statement of consent in which the researcher and participant both sign and date)

Front 88

3 M’s of validity

Back 88

Memory, misunderstanding, miscommunication