Sociology Ch 2

Front 1

Science

Back 1

is the logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation

Front 2

Empirical evidence

Back 2

is information we van verify with our senses

Front 3

Positivist sociology

Back 3

is the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior

Front 4

Concept

Back 4

a mental construct that represents some part of the world in a simplified form

Front 5

Variable

Back 5

is a concept whose value changes from case to case

Front 6

measurements

Back 6

a procedure for determining the value of a variable

Front 7

operationalize a variable

Back 7

by specifying exactly what is to be measured before assigning a value to a variable

Front 8

Reliability

Back 8

refers to consistency in measurement

Front 9

Validity

Back 9

which means actually measuring exactly what you intend to measure

Front 10

Cause an effect

Back 10

a relationship in which change in one variable causes change in another

Front 11

independent variable

Back 11

the variable that causes the change

Front 12

dependent variable

Back 12

the variable that changes

Front 13

Correlation

Back 13

is a relationship in which two variables change together

Front 14

spurious correlation

Back 14

can apparent but false relationship between two (or more) variables that caused by some other variable

correlation does not equal causation

Front 15

control

Back 15

holding constant all variables except one in order to see clearly effect of that variable

Front 16

objectivity

Back 16

personal neutrality in conducting research

Front 17

replication

Back 17

repetition of research by other investigators

Front 18

interpretive sociology

Back 18

the study of society that focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world

Front 19

critical sociology

Back 19

is the study of society that focuses on the need of social change

Front 20

gender

Back 20

the personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being female and male

Front 21

research method

Back 21

is a systematic plan for doing research

Front 22

experiment

Back 22

a research method for investigating cause and effect under highly controlled conditions

Front 23

hypothesis

Back 23

a statement of a possible relationship between two (or more) variables.

Front 24

Hawthrone effect

Back 24

a change in a subject's behavior caused simply by the awareness of being studied

Front 25

population

Back 25

the people who are the focus of research

Front 26

sample

Back 26

A part of a population that represents the whole

Front 27

questionnaire

Back 27

is a series of written questions a researcher presents to subjects

Front 28

survey

Back 28

a research method in which subjects respond to a series of statements or questions on a questionnaire or in an interview

Front 29

interview

Back 29

a series of questions a researcher asks respondents in person

Front 30

participant observation

Back 30

a research method in which investigators systematically observe people while joining them in their routine avtivites

Front 31

inductive logical thought

Back 31

reasoning that transforms specific observations into general theory

Front 32

deductive logical thought

Back 32

reasoning that transforms general theory into specific hypotheses suitable for testing