Chapter 2

Question 1

a logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation

Answer 1

science

Question 2

information we can verify with our senses

Answer 2

empirical evidence

Question 3

the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior

Answer 3

positivist socialist

Question 4

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

Answer 4

concept

Question 5

a concept whose value change from case to case

Answer 5

variable

Question 6

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

Answer 6

measurement

Question 7

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

Answer 7

operationalize a variable

Question 8

consistency in measurement

Answer 8

reliability

Question 9

actually measuring exactly what you intend measure

Answer 9

validity

Question 10

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

Answer 10

cause and effect

Question 11

the variable that causes the change

Answer 11

independent variable

Question 12

the variable that changes

Answer 12

dependent variable

Question 13

a relationship in which two (or more) variables that is caused by some other variable

Answer 13

correlation

Question 14

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

Answer 14

spurious correlation

Question 15

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

Answer 15

control

Question 16

personal neutrality in conducting research

Answer 16

objectivity

Question 17

repetition of research by other investigators

Answer 17

replication

Question 18

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

Answer 18

interpretive sociology

Question 19

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

Answer 19

critical sociology

Question 20

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

Answer 20

gender

Question 21

a systematic plan for doing research

Answer 21

research method

Question 22

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

Answer 22

experiment

Question 23

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

Answer 23

hypothesis

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Hawthorne effect

Question 25

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

Answer 25

survey

Question 26

the people who are the focus of research

Answer 26

population

Question 27

the part of a population that represents the whole

Answer 27

sample

Question 28

a series of written question questions a researcher presents to a subject

Answer 28

questionnaire

Question 29

a series of question questions a researcher asks respondents in person

Answer 29

interview

Question 30

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

Answer 30

participant observation

Question 31

reasoning that transforms specific observations into general theory

Answer 31

inductive logical thought

Question 32

reasoning that transforms general theory into specific hypotheses suitable for testing

Answer 32

deductive logical thought