Chapter 2 Key Terms: Research Methods in Sociology

Directions:
1. Define each key term.
2. I recommend you use the online textbook for all key terms. (Textbook is linked on
our home page in Canvas.
3.These key terms are an excellent resource for preparing for quizzes and tests.
4. You must number each key term; you must also include the key term with its
definition.

1. Accuracy 2. case study 3. code of ethics 4. content analysis 5. Correlation 6. Debunking

7. dependent variables 8. empirical evidence 9. Ethnography 10. Experiment
11. field research 12. Hawthorne effect 13. Hypothesis 14. independent variables
15. interpretive framework 16. Interview 17. literature review 18. nonreactive research
19. operational definitions 20. participant observation 21. Population 22. primary data
23. qualitative data 24. quantitative data 25. random sample 26. Reliability 27. Samples
28. scientific method 29. secondary data analysis 30. Surveys 31. Validity
32. value neutrality

Example:

1. Karl Marx: Karl Marx was a German philosopher and economist. In 1848, he and
Friedrich Engels (1820–1895) co-authored the Communist Manifesto. This book is one of
the most influential political manuscripts in history.

1. Accuracy : accuracy is using a tool the makes the measurement more precise
2. case study : case study is in depth analysis of a single event, situation, or individual
3. code of ethics : code of ethics is a set of guidelines set by the ASA to foster ethical
research and professionally responsible scholarship in sociology.
4. content analysis : content analysis is applying a systematic approach to record and
value information gleaned from secondary data as it relates to the study at hand
5. Correlation : correlation is when a change in one variable coincides with a change in
another variable, but does not necessarily indicate causation
6. Debunking : debunking is exposing falseness by examining merit, logic, and evidence.
7. dependent variables : dependent variables are variables changed by other variables
8. empirical evidence : empirical evidence is evidence that comes from direct
observations, scientifically gathered data, or experimentation
9. Ethnography : ethnography is participating and observing thinking and behavior in a
social setting
 Chapter 2 Key Terms: Research Methods in Sociology

10. Experiment : experiment are the testing of a hypothesis under controlled conditions
11. field research : field research is gathering data from a natural environment without
doing a lab experiment or a survey
12. Hawthorne effect : Hawthorne effect is when subjects or participants in an
observation act a certain way because they are aware they are being watched.
13. Hypothesis : hypothesis is a testable educated guess about predicted outcomes
between two or more variables.
14. independent variables : independent variables cause change on dependent variables
15. interpretive framework : interpretive framework is a sociological research approach
that seeks in-depth understanding of a topic or subject through observation or
interaction; this approach is not based on hypothesis testing
16. Interview : interviews are a one-on-one conversation between the researcher and
the subject
17. literature review : literature review is a scholarly research step that entails
identifying and studying all existing studies on a topic to create a basis for new research
18. nonreactive research : nonreactive research is using secondary data, does not include
direct contact with research subjects and does not alter or influence people’s behaviors
19. operational definitions : operational definitions are specific explanations of abstract
concepts that a researcher plans to study
20. participant observation : participant observation is when a researcher immerses
herself in a group or social setting in order to make observations from an “insider”
perspective
21. Population : population is a defined group serving as the subject of a study
22. primary data : primary data is data collected directly from firsthand experience
23. qualitative data : qualitative data is non-numerical, descriptive data that is often
subjective and based on what is experienced in a natural setting
24. quantitative data : quantitative data is data collected in numerical form that can be
counted and analyzed using statistics
25. random sample : random samples are study’s participants being randomly selected to
serve as a representation of a larger population
26. Reliability : reliability is a measure of a study’s consistency that considers how likely
results are to be replicated if a study is reproduced
27. Samples : samples are small, manageable number of subjects that represent the
population
28. scientific method : scientific method is an established scholarly research that involves
asking a question, researching existing sources, forming a hypothesis, designing a data
collection method, gathering data, and drawing conclusions
 Chapter 2 Key Terms: Research Methods in Sociology

29. secondary data analysis : secondary data analysis is using data collected by others and
applying new interpretations
30. Surveys : surveys collect data from subjects who respond to a series of questions
about thinking, behaviors, and opinions, often in the form of a questionnaire
31. Validity : validity is the degree to which a sociological measure accurately reflects
the topic of study
32. value neutrality : value neutrality is a practice of remaining impartial, without bias or
judgment during the course of a study and in publishing results