Chapter 2Doing Sociological Research

Key Terms

scientific methodInvolves several steps in research process, including observation, hypothesis testing, analysis of data, and generalization.

empiricalBased on careful and systematic observation, not conjecture.

deductive reasoningSpecific conclusions are derived from general principles.

inductive reasoningDerives general conclusions from specific observations.

replication studyResearch that is repeated exactly, but with a different group of people, or in a different time or place.

research designThe overall logic and strategy underlying the research.

quantitative research Uses statistical methods.

qualitative researchLess structured research that is focused on the question being asked.

hypothesisA tentative assumption that can be tested by research.

independent variableThe variable that is the presumed cause of something else.

dependent variableThe variable upon which there is a presumed effect.

concepts Abstract characteristic or attribute that can be potentially measured.

operational definitionA definition that spells out how a concept is to be measured.

indicatorsSomething that points to or reflects an abstract concept.

validityThe degree to which it accurately measures or reflects a concept.

reliabilityThe degree to which a repeat of the measurement gives the same results.

data analysis Process of organizing collected data to discover the patterns and uniformities that the data reveal.

participant observation (field research)A method by which the sociologist becomes both a participant in the group being studied and a scientific observer of the group.

controlled experiments

A method of collecting data that can determine whether something causes something else.

content analysisAnalysis of meanings in cultural artifacts such as books, songs, and other forms of cultural communication.

evaluation researchAssesses the effect of policies and programs on people in society.

probabilitiesThe likelihood that a specific behavior or event will occur.

sampleA subset of a population.

populationLarge collection of people that a researcher studies and about which generalizations are made.

random sampleGives everyone in the population an equal chance of being selected.

percentageparts per hundred

rateparts per some number

meanaverage

medianMidpoint in a series of values arranged in numerical order.

modeThe value that appears most frequently in a set of data.

correlationTechnique for analyzing the patterns of association, or correlations, between pairs of variables like income and education.