Chapter 5

Question 1

a statement of how variables are expected to be related to one another, often according to prediction from a theory

Answer 1

Hypothesis

Question 2

a factor thought to be significant for human behavior, which can vary (or change) from one case to another.

Answer 2

Variable

Question 3

the way in which a researcher measures a variable

Answer 3

Operational Definition

Question 4

one of seven procedures that sociologists use to collect data: surveys, participant observation, case studies, secondary analysis, documents, experiments, and unobtrusive measures.

Answer 4

Research Method/Design

Question 5

the extent to which an operational definition measures what it is intended to measure.

Answer 5

Validity

Question 6

the extent to which research produces consistent or dependable results

Answer 6

Reliability

Question 7

the collection of data by having people answer a series of questions

Answer 7

Survey

Question 8

a target group to be studied

Answer 8

Population

Question 9

the individuals intended to represent the population to be studied

Answer 9

Sample

Question 10

a sample in which everyone in the target population has the same chance of being included in the study

Answer 10

Random Sample

Question 11

a sample from selected subgroups of that target population in which everyone in those subgroups has an equal chance of being included in the research.

Answer 11

Stratified Random Sample

Question 12

people’s response to a survey, either in interviews or be self-administered questionnaires.

Answer 12

Respondents

Question 13

a list of questions to be asked of respondents

Answer 13

Questionnaires

Question 14

questionnaires that respondents fill out

Answer 14

Self-Administered Questionnaires

Question 15

direct questioning of respondents

Answer 15

Interview

Question 16

effects of interviewers on respondents that lead to biased answers

Answer 16

Interview Bias

Question 17

interviews that use close-ended question

Answer 17

Structured Interviews

Question 18

questions that are followed by a list of possible answers to be selected be the respondent

Answer 18

Close-ended questions

Question 19

interviews that use open-ended questions

Answer 19

Unstructured Interviews

Question 20

questions that respondents answer in their own words

Answer 20

Open Ended Questions

Question 21

a feeling of trust between researchers and the people they are studying

Answer 21

Rapport

Question 22

research in which the researcher participates I the research setting while observing what is happening in the setting.

Answer 22

Participant Observation

Question 23

the extent to which the findings from one group or sample can be generalized or applied to other groups or populations.

Answer 23

Generalizability

Question 24

an intensive analysis of single event, situation, or individual.

Answer 24

Case Study

Question 25

The analysis of data that have been collected by other researchers.

Answer 25

Secondary Analysis

Question 26

in its narrow sense, written sources that provide data; in its extended sense, archival material of any sort, including photographs, movies, CDs, DVDs, and so on.

Answer 26

Documents

Question 27

the use of control and experimental groups and dependent and independent variables to test causation

Answer 27

Experiment

Question 28

the group of subjects in an experiment who are exposed to the independent variable

Answer 28

Experimental Group

Question 29

the subjects in an experiment who are not exposed to the independent variable

Answer 29

Control group

Question 30

a factor that causes a change in another variable, called the dependent variable

Answer 30

Independent Variable

Question 31

a factor in an experiment that is changed by an independent variable.

Answer 31

Dependent Variable

Question 32

ways of observing people so they do not know they are being studied.

Answer 32

Obtrusive Measures

Question 33

What are the eight basic steps of sociological research?

Answer 33

1. Select a Topic 2. Define the Problem 3. Review the Literature 4. Formulate a Hypothesis 5. Choose a Research Method 6. Collect the Data 7. Analyze the Results 8. Share the Results