Soci 251 Final Exam

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unit of analysis

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The what or whom being studied. In social science research, the most typical units of analysis are individual people.

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unit of observation/element

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entities on which information is received and statistics are compiled.

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face validity

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the validity of a test at face value. In other words, a test can be said to have face validity if it "looks like" it is going to measure what it is supposed to measure.

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criterion-related validity

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a measure of how well one variable or set of variables predicts an outcome based on information from other variables (standardized tests)

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construct validity

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whether a scale measures or correlates with the theorized sociological construct that it purports to measure

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content validity

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the extent to which a measure represents all facets of a given social construct

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purposive sampling

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A sample in which the individual units are selected by some purposive method. It is therefore subject to biases of personal selection and for this reason is now rarely advocated in its crude form.

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quota sampling

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the population is first segmented into mutually exclusive sub-groups, just as in stratified sampling. Then judgment is used to select the subjects or units from each segment based on a specified proportion

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systematic sampling

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k (the sampling interval) is equal to N (the population size) over n (the sample size).

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stratified sampling

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The process of grouping members of the population into relatively homogeneous subgroups before sampling

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cluster sampling

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a sampling technique used when "natural" groupings are evident in a statistical population. It is often used in marketing research. In this technique, the total population is divided into these groups (or clusters) and a sample of the groups is selected. Then the required information is collected from the elements within each selected group.

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proportionate sampling

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the population is divided into subpopulations (strata) and random samples are taken of each stratum

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internal validity

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the validity of (causal) inferences in scientific studies, usually based on experiments as experimental validity

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external validity

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the validity of generalized (causal) inferences in scientific studies, usually based on experiments as experimental validity

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contingency question

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Used to guide different kinds of people through different routes through your questionnaire as needed.

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secondary analysis

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analysis by a researcher removed from the process to continue the original analysis to address different questions or to use different methods to address the original research question.

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emic perspective

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relating to features or items analyzed with respect to their role as structural units in a system

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etic perspective

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relating to features or items analyzed without considering their role as a structural unit in a system

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naturalism

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The practice of describing precisely the actual circumstances of human life in study

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ethnomethodology

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a method for understanding the social orders people use to make sense of the world through analyzing their accounts and descriptions of their day-to-day experiences. Opposite of the American sociological approach to data analysis with its traditional sociological modes of thinking.

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grounded theory

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a systematic qualitative research methodology in the social sciences emphasizing generation of theory from data in the process of conducting research

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extended case method

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A longer in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, or event to explore causation in order to find underlying principles

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institutional ethnography

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the empirical investigation of linkages among local settings of everyday life, organizations, and translocal processes of administration

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participatory action research

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A research method in which the researcher works with the group under investigation; that is to say that she or he takes a lead from the group on what is to be studied, where, when, and how. The researcher shares useful research skills with the group, which is then enabled to undertake further research autonomously

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focus group

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A small group selected from a wider population and sampled, as by open discussion, for its members' opinions about or emotional response to a particular subject or area, used especially in market research or political analysis.

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content analysis

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A systematic analysis of the content rather than the structure of a communication, such as a written work, speech, or film, including the study of thematic and symbolic elements to determine the objective or meaning of the communication.

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manifest content

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the consequences that people observe or expect

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latent content

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not explicitly stated, recognized, or intended by the people involved

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semiotics

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The theory and study of signs and symbols, especially as elements of language or other systems of communication, and comprising semantics, syntactics, and pragmatics

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quasi experiment

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setting up a particular type of an experiment or other study in which one has little or no control over the allocation of the treatments or other factors being studied

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open coding

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the researcher forms initial categories of information about the phenomenon being studied by segmenting information. Within each category (represents a unit of information like an event), the researcher finds several properties, or subcategories, and looks for data to show the possibilities on a continuum of the property.

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axial coding

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After open coding, the researcher presents this using a coding paradigm or logic diagram in which he/she identifies a central phenomenon, explores causal conditions, specifies strategies, identifies the content and intervening conditions (the narrow and broad conditions that influence the strategies).

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selective coding

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the researcher identifies a “story line” and writes a story that integrates the categories in the axial coding model. In this phase, conditional propositions (or hypotheses) are typically presented.

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code note

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a memo that identifies the code labels and their meanings

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theoretical note

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a memo that covers a variety of qualitative data thoughts and ideas. e.g. reflections of concepts and deeper meanings

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operational note

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a memo that deals primarily with methodological issues.

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concept mapping

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The graphical display of concepts and their interrelations. Useful for formulation of theory

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univariate analysis

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The analysis of a single variable, for purposes of description

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frequency distribution

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A description of the number of times the various attributes of a variable are observed in a sample

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dispersion

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The distribution of values around some central value, such as an average.

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continuous variable

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A variable whose attributes form a steady progression, such as age or income. 23, 24, 25, 26...

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discrete variable

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A variable whose attributes are separate from one another, or are discontinuous, such as sex or religious affiliation.

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bivariate analysis

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The analysis of two variables simultaneously for the purpose of determining relationships between them.

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multivariate analysis

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The analysis of simultaneous relationships among several variables.

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codebook

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The document used in data processing and analysis that tells the location of different data item in a data file.