research methods

Bias - where the views of the researchers affect the research.

Causal relationship - where there is a relationship between two social events with one causing the other.

Correlation - a statistical relationship between two things. It does not necessarily mean that one causes the other. For example, over 70% of burglars drink coffee, but this does not mean that drinking coffee causes someone to commit burglary.

Data - the info uncovered by research.

Generalizability - if the group sociologists choose to study are representative of the population as a whole, then they will be able to make a generalization about the whole society. If the group is not representative, they will only be able to speak about the particular groups studied.

Methodology - the process of undertaking research using the appropriate sociological methods.

Objectivity - quality achieved when a researcher's values do not affect their work.

Primary data - info obtained directly by the sociologist.

Qualitative data - info from a range of sources which are not statistical, such as observation.

Quantitavive data - statistical info.

Reliability - quality of repeatability: if the same piece of research were repeated by different sociologists, then it should produce the same results.

Representativeness - situation where the people sociologists study are cross section of the group they wish to generalise about.

Secondary data - info obtained from sources origionally collected by someone other than the sociologists conducting the research.

Sociological theory - an explanation of how different parts of society or different views relate to

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Key terms of research methods

Bias - where the views of the researchers affect the research.

Causal relationship - where there is a relationship between two social events with one causing the other.

Correlation - a statistical relationship between two things. It does not necessarily mean that one causes the other. For example, over 70% of burglars drink coffee, but this does not mean that drinking coffee causes someone to commit burglary.

Data - the info uncovered by research.

Generalizability - if the group sociologists choose to study are representative of the population as a whole, then they will be able to make a generalization about the whole society. If the group is not representative, they will only be able to speak about the particular groups studied.

Methodology - the process of undertaking research using the appropriate sociological methods.

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Key terms of research methods

Objectivity - quality achieved when a researcher's values do not affect their work.

Primary data - info obtained directly by the sociologist.

Qualitative data - info from a range of sources which are not statistical, such as observation.

Quantitavive data - statistical info.

Reliability - quality of repeatability: if the same piece of research were repeated by different sociologists, then it should produce the same results.

Representativeness - situation where the people sociologists study are cross section of the group they wish to generalise about.

2 of 3

Key terms of research methods

Secondary data - info obtained from sources origionally collected by someone other than the sociologists conducting the research.

Sociological theory - an explanation of how different parts of society or different views relate to one another.

Validity - the extent to which data give a true picture of the subject being studied.

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Really nice definitions.

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