2.5: Key Terms
- Page ID
- 172023
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| Words (or words that have the same definition) | The definition is case sensitive | (Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages] | (Optional) Caption for Image | (Optional) External or Internal Link | (Optional) Source for Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...") | (Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity") |  |
The infamous double helix | https://bio.libretexts.org/ | CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen |
| Word(s) | Definition | Image | Caption | Link | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| accuracy | using a tool makes the measuring more precise. | ||||
| case study | in-depth analysis of a single event, situation, or individual | ||||
| code of ethics | a set of guidelines that the American Sociological Association has established to foster ethical research and professionally responsible scholarship in sociology | ||||
| content analysis | applying a systematic approach to record and value information gleaned from secondary data as it relates to the study at hand | ||||
| correlation | when a change in one variable coincides with a change in another variable, but does not necessarily indicate causation | ||||
| debunking | looking beyond the obvious to expose falseness by examining merit, logic, and evidence. | ||||
| dependent variables | a variable changed by other variables | ||||
| empirical evidence | evidence that comes from direct observations, scientifically gathered data, or experimentation | ||||
| ethnography | participating and observing thinking and behavior in a social setting | ||||
| experiment | the testing of a hypothesis under controlled conditions | ||||
| field research | gathering data from a natural environment without doing a lab experiment or a survey | ||||
| Hawthorne effect | when study subjects behave in a certain manner due to their awareness of being observed by a researcher | ||||
| hypothesis | a testable educated guess about predicted outcomes between two or more variables | ||||
| independent variables | variables that cause changes in dependent variables | ||||
| interpretive framework | 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 | ||||
| interview | a one-on-one conversation between the researcher and the subject | ||||
| literature review | a scholarly research step that entails identifying and studying all existing studies on a topic to create a basis for new research | ||||
| nonreactive research | using secondary data, does not include direct contact with research subjects and does not alter or influence people’s behaviors | ||||
| operational definitions | specific explanations of abstract concepts that a researcher plans to study | ||||
| participant observation | when a researcher immerses herself in a group or social setting in order to make observations from an “insider” perspective | ||||
| population | a defined group serving as the subject of a study | ||||
| primary data | data that are collected directly from firsthand experience | ||||
| qualitative data | non-numerical, descriptive data that is often subjective and based on what is experienced in a natural setting | ||||
| quantitative data | data collected in numerical form that can be counted and analyzed using statistics | ||||
| random sample | a study’s participants being randomly selected to serve as a representation of a larger population | ||||
| reliability | a measure of a study’s consistency that considers how likely results are to be replicated if a study is reproduced | ||||
| samples | small, manageable number of subjects that represent the population | ||||
| scientific method | 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 | ||||
| secondary data analysis | using data collected by others and applying new interpretations | ||||
| surveys | collect data from subjects who respond to a series of questions about thinking, behaviors, and opinions, often in the form of a questionnaire | ||||
| validity | the degree to which a sociological measure accurately reflects the topic of study | ||||
| value neutrality | a practice of remaining impartial, without bias or judgment during the course of a study and in publishing results |