Sociology 287 Unit 2 Study Guide: Key Concepts and Research Methods, Exams of Sociology

Download Sociology 287 Unit 2 Study Guide: Key Concepts and Research Methods and more Exams Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! Soci 287 Unit 2 Study guide practice Questions and answers Fact - >>>something that has been observed and for all intents and purposes has been proven true. Ex: Apples come in red. Theory - >>>is an attempt to explain something that has been observed. Ex: Theoretically, apples mainly have a red colouring. Hypothesis - >>>A statement that is verifiable or falsifiable, you can prove it either true or false. The statement tries to explain the relationship between variables. Ex: Playing Video Games improves social skills. What is Logical Positivism? Why is objectivity in research so important? - >>>Positivism is the belief that the social sciences can be studied using the methods of the Natural Sciences such as experimentation, measurement and systematic observation. Objectivity is important because you must ensure that the truth you arrive at is as pure as possible. It must be free of bias and irrationality otherwise it cannot serve its purpose. What are the major differences between qualitative and quantitative research? - >>>Quantitative research focuses on social elements that can be counted or measured, eventually used to generate statistics. Qualitative research focuses on examining characteristics that cannot be easily measured. What is Ethnography? - >>>A research method shared by sociology and social anthropology, in which communities or groups are studied through extensive fieldwork. The Ethnographer must involve themselves with their subjects personally and collect data through hands on experience. What are some of the major advantages of using participant observation as a research method? - >>>You can identify the ruling interests of the group that you are studying, such as the administration at a company. -You can work to bridge the gap between the varying perspectives of your subject matter. Usually there are two sides of a conflict and by participation you can identify the disjuncture between the two and work to find a mutually beneficial solution.