1. SOCIOLOGY Chapter 2: Research

2. Describe the five ways we know the world. 1. Personal Experience 2. Tradition 3. Authority 4. Religion 5. Science

3. Explain the difference between the empirical and the normative approaches to knowledge. Empirical: knowledge by direct, systematic observation Empirical: knowledge by direct, systematic observation Normative: knowledge through direct experience, tradition, authority and religion Normative: knowledge through direct experience, tradition, authority and religion

4. Since scientific knowledge… is both systematic and public, the facts and how they were arrived must be open to scrutiny

5. Why is it important for scientific study to be objective? So that people in the scientific community can’t imply that we are biased when we “discover” some truth or other So that people in the scientific community can’t imply that we are biased when we “discover” some truth or other

6. If you were going to research hate crimes, what questions might you ask in a descriptive study? Who were the victims? Who were the victims? Age Age Sex Sex Number of previous incidents Number of previous incidents Who were the perpetrators? Who were the perpetrators? Factual details, etc Factual details, etc

7. If you were going to research hate crimes, what questions might you ask in an explanatory study? How did they feel? How did they feel? Are they going to make changes in their future plans? Are they going to make changes in their future plans? Did they feel guilty? Did they feel guilty? Who did they blame? Who did they blame?

8. Explain the difference between deductive and inductive studies. Deductive: Starts with the theory and then tests it Deductive: Starts with the theory and then tests it Out theory is that … so we then set up a way to test that idea Out theory is that … so we then set up a way to test that idea Inductive: Starts with observations and then generates a theory Inductive: Starts with observations and then generates a theory I notice that all cats…so I conclude that this is a truth about cats I notice that all cats…so I conclude that this is a truth about cats

9. List the steps of the quantitative research model. What is the focus of the research? Goal is measurable data Goal is measurable data Review previous research Review previous research Formulate hypotheses Formulate hypotheses Key terms: independent and dependent variables Key terms: independent and dependent variables Develop the research design Develop the research design Collect and analyze the data Collect and analyze the data Draw conclusions and report the findings Draw conclusions and report the findings

10. Define: Dependent variable: depends on or is caused by the independent variable; the results Dependent variable: depends on or is caused by the independent variable; the results Independent variable: Causes or determines something Independent variable: Causes or determines something

11. Define: Reliability: the extent to which a study yields consistent results-either with different results or with the same results for a person or group measured more than once (ruler) Reliability: the extent to which a study yields consistent results-either with different results or with the same results for a person or group measured more than once (ruler) Validity: how accurately does the study or experiment measure something? (IQ test- does it really measure intelligence? Validity: how accurately does the study or experiment measure something? (IQ test- does it really measure intelligence? Analysis: how a study is organized so that conclusions can be drawn Analysis: how a study is organized so that conclusions can be drawn

12. Why is it extremely important for research to be able to be replicated? If the results can’t be replicated, then there is not much likelihood that the results were “real” If the results can’t be replicated, then there is not much likelihood that the results were “real”

13. Strengths and weaknesses of experimentation Strengths: Strengths: The researcher has control and can identify the key independent variable The researcher has control and can identify the key independent variable Experiments require little time and money Experiments require little time and money Weaknesses: Weaknesses: Problem of reactivity: The tendency of participants to change their behaviour in response to the presence of the researcher Problem of reactivity: The tendency of participants to change their behaviour in response to the presence of the researcher Not representative of others not in the experiment Not representative of others not in the experiment Too much control by the researcher…does not allow input by the participants Too much control by the researcher…does not allow input by the participants

14. Strengths and weaknesses of survey research Strengths: Strengths: Inexpensive Inexpensive Opens the doors to history Opens the doors to history Can look at longitudinal (over time) data Can look at longitudinal (over time) data Rich and deep-can be very in-depth Rich and deep-can be very in-depth Weaknesses: Weaknesses: Restricted to what is recorded Restricted to what is recorded May be inaccurate May be inaccurate Perhaps not able to be generalized (field research) Perhaps not able to be generalized (field research)