2. Sociological Investigation

Question 1

science

Answer 1

a logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation

Question 2

empirical evidence

Answer 2

information we can verify with our senses

Question 3

positivist sociology

Answer 3

the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior

Question 4

concept

Answer 4

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

Question 5

variable

Answer 5

a concept whose value changes from case to case

Question 6

measurement

Answer 6

a procedure for determining the value of a variable in a specific case

Question 7

operationalize a variable

Answer 7

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

Question 8

reliability

Answer 8

consistency in measurement

Question 9

validity

Answer 9

actually measuring exactly what you intend to measure

Question 10

cause and effect

Answer 10

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

Question 11

independent variable

Answer 11

the variable that causes the change

Question 12

dependent variable

Answer 12

the variable that changes

Question 13

correlation

Answer 13

a relationship in which two (or more) variables change together

Question 14

spurious correlation

Answer 14

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

Question 15

control

Answer 15

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

Question 16

objectivity

Answer 16

personal neutrality in conducting research

Question 17

replication

Answer 17

repetition of research by other investigators

Question 18

interpretive sociology

Answer 18

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

Question 19

critical sociology

Answer 19

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

Question 20

gender

Answer 20

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

Question 21

research method

Answer 21

a systematic plan for doing research

Question 22

experiment

Answer 22

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

Question 23

hypothesis

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Hawthorne effect

Answer 24

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

Question 25

survey

Answer 25

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

Question 26

population

Answer 26

the people who are the focus of research

Question 27

sample

Answer 27

a part of a population that represents the whole

Question 28

questionnaire

Answer 28

a series of written questions a researcher presents to subjects

Question 29

interview

Answer 29

a series of questions a researcher asks respondents in person

Question 30

participant observation

Answer 30

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

Question 31

inductive logical thought

Answer 31

reasoning that transforms specific observations into general theory

Question 32

deductive logical thought

Answer 32

reasoning that transforms general theory into specific hypotheses suitable for testing