Unit+II++Sociological+Research

Sociology Research Multi-Media Project: This worksheet was completed in class on 2/14/11 for assignment points.

Unit II: Sociological Research After reading chapter two, you should be able to:
 * Name the two requirements of sociological investigation.
 * Discuss the advantages of the scientific approach to knowing and examine how scientific evidence challenges our common sense.
 * Define concepts, variables, and measurement.
 * Distinguish between the concepts of reliability and validity.
 * Distinguish between independent and dependent variables.
 * Understand the distinction between a cause-and-effect relationship and a correlational relationship.
 * Examine the ideal of objectivity in sociological research and discuss ways that researchers can be as objective as possible.
 * Identify limitations of scientific sociology.
 * Summarize the three methodical approaches in sociology: scientific, interpretive, and critical.
 * Identify five ways in which gender-based issues may distort sociological research.
 * List ethical guidelines to follow in sociological research.
 * Summarize the four major methods by which sociologists conduct research and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each method.
 * Understand the basic logic of experimental research.
 * Outline 10 steps in the process of carrying out sociological investigation.

Key Vocabulary:
 * science
 * scientific sociology
 * empirical evidence
 * concept
 * variable
 * measurement
 * operationalize a variable
 * reliability
 * validity
 * cause and effect
 * independent variable
 * dependent variable
 * correlation
 * spurious correlation
 * control
 * objectivity
 * replication
 * interpretive sociology
 * critical sociology
 * gender
 * research method
 * experiment
 * hypothesis
 * hawthorne effect
 * survey
 * population
 * sample
 * questionnaire
 * interview
 * participation observation
 * secondary analysis
 * inductive logical thought
 * deductive logical thought