Chapter 2

Question 1

Research Methodology

Answer 1

The system of methods a researcher used to gather data on a particular research question.
A contested field in sociology.

Question 2

Scientific Method

Answer 2

A series of steps leading to proof.
The steps are: observations, research question, background research, hypothesis, research design, gather data, analyze data and present results.

Question 3

Positivism

Answer 3

The belief that social sciences could be studied using the methods of natural sciences.
Assumes researchers are objective.

Question 4

Outsider

Answer 4

Expert, occupies a position of power.

Question 5

Insider

Answer 5

Subject of study.

Question 6

Critical Sociologists

Answer 6

Dorothy Smith and Micheal Foucault.

Challenged the notion of the objective outsider and stressed the unique role of the insider perspective.

Question 7

Standpoint Theory

Answer 7

States that the social location of sociologists impacts the questions they ask and the answers they receive.

Question 8

Insider Voice

Answer 8

From the subject being studied, provides information that comes from their subjective experience.

Question 9

Objective Outsider

Answer 9

Experts who decide over the authenticity of the insider perspective, this is where vital information gets lost.

Question 10

Quantitative Research

Answer 10

Focuses on social elements that can be counted or measured, which can therefore be used to generate statistics.
Used in macrosociology.

Question 11

Qualitative Research

Answer 11

The close examination of characteristics that cannot be counted or measured.
Used in microsociology.

Question 12

Triangulation

Answer 12

Combination of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Question 13

Ethnography

Answer 13

Seeks to uncover the symbols and categories members of the given culture use to interpret their world.
Qualitative research method.

Question 14

Participant Observation

Answer 14

Observing people and actively participation in their activities to obtain an insider’s perspective.

Question 15

Semi-structured Interviews

Answer 15

Informal, face to face interviews.

Question 16

Informants

Answer 16

Insiders who help the researcher in becoming accepted by the community and assist with the interpretation of information and behaviour.

Question 17

Institution Ethnography

Answer 17

Developed by Dorothy Smith.

Recognizes that every institution has two sides, each associated with a different kind of data.

Question 18

Ruling Interests

Answer 18

The interests of the organization or the interests of those who hold power in society.
Written rules and practices provide data.

Question 19

Experiential Data

Answer 19

Comes from informants: anyone who works for the organization outside of management.

Question 20

Case Studies

Answer 20

A research design that takes as its subject single case or a few selected examples of a social entity.
Qualitative research method.

Question 21

Narratives

Answer 21

The stories people tell about themselves, their situations, and others around them.
Qualitative research method.

Question 22

Voice

Answer 22

The expression of a particular viewpoint from a particular social location.

Question 23

Content Analysis

Answer 23

Studying a set of cultural artifacts or events and determines the themes they reflect.
Qualitative research method.

Question 24

Discourse

Answer 24

A conceptual framework with its own internal logic and underlying assumptions that are generally recognizable.

Question 25

Discourse Analysis

Answer 25

Either: Analyzing discourse as the term is commonly understood or considering a broader definition of the word text, going beyond individual works and authors to include larger fields. Qualitative research method.

Question 26

Genealogy

Answer 26

Examining the history of discourse, seeking to race the origins and histories of modern discourses. Qualitative research method.

Question 27

Statistics

Answer 27

The use of numbers to map social behaviour and beliefs.

Question 28

Operational Definitions

Answer 28

Transform abstract or theoretical concepts like poverty or middle class into concrete observable, measurable entities.

Question 29

Variable

Answer 29

A concept with measurable traits or characteristics that can change from one person, group, culture or time to another.

Question 30

Absolute Poverty

Answer 30

Anything below the minimum income level needed to secure basic necessities. Measured by Market Bastet Measure.

Question 31

Relative Poverty

Answer 31

Defines poverty relative to median or mean household incomes. Measured by Low Income Cutoff.

Question 32

Poll

Answer 32

A quantitative survey designed to measure respondents’ views on a particular topic or set of topics.

Question 33

Closed-ended Questionnaire

Answer 33

Used to capture respondents’ answers to a set of questions with set answer options.

Question 34

Open-ended Questionnaire

Answer 34

Used to capture respondents’ answers to each question without having to select a predetermined response from a list.

Question 35

Independent Variable

Answer 35

Has an effect on another variable (cause).

Question 36

Dependent Variable

Answer 36

Affected by the independent variable (effect).

Question 37

Correlation

Answer 37

When two variables are associated more frequently than chance could account for.

Question 38

Direct Correlation

Answer 38

Positive Correlation. | When the dependent and independent variable increase or decrease together.

Question 39

Inverse Correlation

Answer 39

When the dependent and independent variable change in opposite directions.

Question 40

Causation

Answer 40

The linking of effects to causes.

Question 41

Spurious Reasoning

Answer 41

Occurs when someone sees correlation and falsely assumes causation.

Question 42

Spurious Variable

Answer 42

An outside factor that influences both correlating variables.

Question 43

Research Ethics

Answer 43

Demonstrating respect for the research subjects.

Question 44

Inform Consent

Answer 44

When participants indicate their understanding and acceptance of the research conditions.