Chapter 2

Question 1

Abduction

Answer 1

Reasoning from an observed effect to possible causes

Question 2

Authority

Answer 2

A way of knowing based on knowledge from a credible or respected source of information

Question 3

Closed-ended research questions

Answer 3

Questions that ask about the direction of the relationship between variables

Question 4

Constructivist

Answer 4

The worldview that individuals construct their own views of the world in which they live, primarily through interaction with others

Question 5

Critical

Answer 5

A communication research tradition that focuses on power and oppression so as to challenge common assumptions and effect emancipation

Question 6

Cybernetic

Answer 6

A view of communication as the flow of information or a system of information processing and feedback

Question 7

Deduction

Answer 7

Reasoning from a theory to defining the observations you will make to test the theory

Question 8

Description

Answer 8

An account or documentation of observed conditions. One basic goal of research is to descrie communication phenomena in such a way that others can understand it

Question 9

Empiricism

Answer 9

The view that knowledge should be based on experience and observation, on empirical as opposed to theoretical knowledge

Question 10

Epistemology

Answer 10

The study of theory of knowledge. What is knowledge and how do we know what we know?

Question 11

Ethnomethodology

Answer 11

The study of how people make sense of their culture and communicate that understanding to others. It seeks to describe and explain cultural understandings in terms of the culture’s own language and concepts

Question 12

Explanation

Answer 12

An attempt to account for the relationships observed among phenomena. A basic goal of communications research is to explain how and why communication phenomena occur

Question 13

Exploration

Answer 13

Mapping out a new area of research before proceeding to study it more specifically. This sort of research may lead down unknown paths as opposed to testing a specific hypothesis

Question 14

Hypothesis

Answer 14

A testable statement about the relationships one expects to find among variables of interest

Question 15

Idiographic

Answer 15

A research approach with an emphasis on understanding the subjectivity and individuality of human communication, rather than universal laws of human behaviour

Question 16

Induction

Answer 16

Reasoning from observations to a theory that might explain the observations

Question 17

Intuition

Answer 17

Refers to arriving at an answer without quite knowing how one arrives there

Question 18

Metatheory

Answer 18

A theory about theories or that embraces two or more theories: a basis for comparing, evaluating, and relating theories in a field

Question 19

Nomothetic

Answer 19

A research approach with an emphasis on measurement with a view to making generalizations about human behaviour

Question 20

Null hypotheses

Answer 20

There is no relationship between variables

Question 21

One-tailed hypotheses

Answer 21

Specifies the direction of relationships between variables

Question 22

Ontology

Answer 22

The study of the nature of existence and what it is that language actually refers to

Question 23

Open-ended research questions

Answer 23

Questions to which respondents can reply in their own words

Question 24

Operationalize

Answer 24

To define a concept in such a way that it can be measured

Question 25

Phenomenological/Phenomenology

Answer 25

A research approach that attempts to understand human behaviour and consciousness from the individual, subjective point of view. The phenomenological tradition is part of communication research

Question 26

Positivism

Answer 26

The idea that phenomena are governed by, and can be explained by, rules based on objective observation and generalizations from those observations

Question 27

Postpositive

Answer 27

A worldview that the world is governed by laws or theories that can be tested or verified, but recognizing that observations are fallible and that theories and findings are always subject to revision

Question 28

Pragmatism

Answer 28

A worldview focusing on solutions to problems and allowing a variety of approaches to understand a problem

Question 29

Prediction

Answer 29

One major goal of research: understanding human behaviour in order to forecast the conditions under which it will occur

Question 30

Rationalism

Answer 30

The view that knowledge is best acquired by reason and factual analysis rather than faith or emotion

Question 31

Research questions

Answer 31

Questions that help focus research. A research's basic interest posed as a question.

Question 32

Rhetoric of place

Answer 32

Studies that examine how public places such as museums or memorials can shape public understandings of history and events

Question 33

Rhetorical

Answer 33

The study of principles and means of persuasion and argumentation. The rhetorical tradition is part of communication research meta theory.

Question 34

Scaled questions

Answer 34

Questions in which respondents are asked to mark their answers on a scale

Question 35

Scienfitic methods

Answer 35

A research approach based on developing spefici hypotheses or propositions that can then be tested using specific observations designed for that purpose

Question 36

Semiotic

Answer 36

In communication research meta theory, the tradition of studying the relationships between signs and their interpretation and meaning; the researcher who conduct these studies.

Question 37

Serials

Answer 37

Regularly published scholarly publications such as journals

Question 38

Sociocultural

Answer 38

A view of communication as producing and reproducing shared meaning and social order

Question 39

Sociopsychological

Answer 39

A view of communication as the interaction of individuals

Question 40

Tenacity

Answer 40

A way of knowing based on accepting knowledge, correctly or incorrectly, because it has stood the test of time

Question 41

Transformative

Answer 41

The worldview that argues for mixing research with politics to address social oppression and change lives for the better

Question 42

Two-tailed hypotheses

Answer 42

Predicts relationships between two variables but does not specify the direction of the relationship

Question 43

Variables

Answer 43

The aspect of a concept that are capable of being measured or taking on a value. The construct academic performance cannot be measured; the variable grade point average can

Question 44

Worldviews

Answer 44

Major conceptual frameworks for understading the world.

Question 45

Constructs

Answer 45

Abstract ideas or concepts