LAURIER Quantitative Methods SY280 Final Exam with Answers Rated A
An attribute or characteristic that may vary over time or
Variables from case to case. See also dependent variable and inde-
pendent variable; compare with constant.
A general or abstract idea; a category that serves to or-
Concept ganize observations and ideas about some aspect of the
social world.
An approach to the analysis of qualitative data in which
the goal is to use the data to generate theory; the data
grounded theory
collection and analysis proceed in an iterative (recursive)
fashion.
To generalize a research finding is to apply it to people or
Generalizations
groups who were not in the study.
An epistemological position that advocates using the
Positivism methods of the natural sciences in the study of social
reality.
An approach to the study of reality ac- cording to which
Empiricism only knowledge gained by observation through the senses
is acceptable.
A condition in which two or more observers of the same
phenomenon are in agreement as to what they have ob-
Intersubjectivity served. Empiricists assume that inter- subjectivity is pos-
sible insofar as knowledge is based on data acquired
through the senses.
An epistemological position that requires the social scien-
Interpretivism tist to grasp the subjective meanings that people attach to
their actions and behaviours.
A theoretical perspective in which social interaction is un-
Symbolic interactionism derstood to be based on the meanings that actors attach
to their actions and the con- texts in which they occur.
Ethnographic
,Like participant observation, a research method in which
the re- searcher is immersed in a social setting for an ex-
tended period of time, observing behaviour, asking ques-
tions, and analyzing what is said in conversations both
between subjects and with the fieldworker. As a term,
"ethnography" is more inclusive than "participant
obser-vation," which emphasizes the observational
component. Written accounts of ethnographic research
are often re-ferred to as ethnographies.
Research in which fieldworkers are immersed in a social
setting for an extended period of time, observing be-
haviour, asking questions, and analyzing what is said in
conversations both between the people under study and
participant observation
with the researcher. It usually includes interviewing key
informants and studying documents. In this book, "par-
ticipant observation" refers to the observational aspect of
ethnography
Data compiled by (or on behalf of) state agencies in the
oflcial statistics
course of conducting their business.
An ontological position ac- cording to which social phe-
Objectivist nomena have an existence in- dependent of social actors
or their perceptions; compare with constructionism.
An ontological position (the antithesis of objectivism) ac-
cording to which social phenomena and their meanings
Constructionist
are continually being created by social actors; also known
as constructivism.
An approach to the analysis of talk and other forms of
discourse analysis communication that emphasizes the way language can
create versions of reality.
Reflexivity
, Terms used to refer to social re- searchers' awareness of
the implications that their methods, values, biases, deci-
sions, and mere presence in the situations they investigate
have for the knowledge they generate.
A non-researcher who controls researchers' access to a
Gatekeepers
research setting.
The term used in this book to refer to a framework for
the collection and analysis of data. The choice of research
Research design design reflects the goals that the researcher hopes to
achieve (for example, generalization, establishing causal-
ity, or producing empathetic understanding).
An approach to explanation that utilizes general law and
Nomothetic principles, which are said to apply to some population
beyond the people studied.
An approach to understanding that seeks specific, unique
Idiographic knowledge about a person or group, typically concerning
interpretations or meanings held by the persons studied.
A collection of written questions or response items that the
Questionnaire
respondent completes without the aid of an interviewer.
A collection of questions designed to be asked by an
Interview schedule
interviewer; always used in a structured interview.
Research in which fieldworkers are immersed in a social
setting for an extended period of time, observing be-
haviour, asking questions, and analyzing what is said in
conversations both between the people under study and
Participant observation
with the researcher. It usually includes interviewing key
informants and studying documents. In this book, "par-
ticipant observation" refers to the observational aspect of
ethnography.
Ethnography
An attribute or characteristic that may vary over time or
Variables from case to case. See also dependent variable and inde-
pendent variable; compare with constant.
A general or abstract idea; a category that serves to or-
Concept ganize observations and ideas about some aspect of the
social world.
An approach to the analysis of qualitative data in which
the goal is to use the data to generate theory; the data
grounded theory
collection and analysis proceed in an iterative (recursive)
fashion.
To generalize a research finding is to apply it to people or
Generalizations
groups who were not in the study.
An epistemological position that advocates using the
Positivism methods of the natural sciences in the study of social
reality.
An approach to the study of reality ac- cording to which
Empiricism only knowledge gained by observation through the senses
is acceptable.
A condition in which two or more observers of the same
phenomenon are in agreement as to what they have ob-
Intersubjectivity served. Empiricists assume that inter- subjectivity is pos-
sible insofar as knowledge is based on data acquired
through the senses.
An epistemological position that requires the social scien-
Interpretivism tist to grasp the subjective meanings that people attach to
their actions and behaviours.
A theoretical perspective in which social interaction is un-
Symbolic interactionism derstood to be based on the meanings that actors attach
to their actions and the con- texts in which they occur.
Ethnographic
,Like participant observation, a research method in which
the re- searcher is immersed in a social setting for an ex-
tended period of time, observing behaviour, asking ques-
tions, and analyzing what is said in conversations both
between subjects and with the fieldworker. As a term,
"ethnography" is more inclusive than "participant
obser-vation," which emphasizes the observational
component. Written accounts of ethnographic research
are often re-ferred to as ethnographies.
Research in which fieldworkers are immersed in a social
setting for an extended period of time, observing be-
haviour, asking questions, and analyzing what is said in
conversations both between the people under study and
participant observation
with the researcher. It usually includes interviewing key
informants and studying documents. In this book, "par-
ticipant observation" refers to the observational aspect of
ethnography
Data compiled by (or on behalf of) state agencies in the
oflcial statistics
course of conducting their business.
An ontological position ac- cording to which social phe-
Objectivist nomena have an existence in- dependent of social actors
or their perceptions; compare with constructionism.
An ontological position (the antithesis of objectivism) ac-
cording to which social phenomena and their meanings
Constructionist
are continually being created by social actors; also known
as constructivism.
An approach to the analysis of talk and other forms of
discourse analysis communication that emphasizes the way language can
create versions of reality.
Reflexivity
, Terms used to refer to social re- searchers' awareness of
the implications that their methods, values, biases, deci-
sions, and mere presence in the situations they investigate
have for the knowledge they generate.
A non-researcher who controls researchers' access to a
Gatekeepers
research setting.
The term used in this book to refer to a framework for
the collection and analysis of data. The choice of research
Research design design reflects the goals that the researcher hopes to
achieve (for example, generalization, establishing causal-
ity, or producing empathetic understanding).
An approach to explanation that utilizes general law and
Nomothetic principles, which are said to apply to some population
beyond the people studied.
An approach to understanding that seeks specific, unique
Idiographic knowledge about a person or group, typically concerning
interpretations or meanings held by the persons studied.
A collection of written questions or response items that the
Questionnaire
respondent completes without the aid of an interviewer.
A collection of questions designed to be asked by an
Interview schedule
interviewer; always used in a structured interview.
Research in which fieldworkers are immersed in a social
setting for an extended period of time, observing be-
haviour, asking questions, and analyzing what is said in
conversations both between the people under study and
Participant observation
with the researcher. It usually includes interviewing key
informants and studying documents. In this book, "par-
ticipant observation" refers to the observational aspect of
ethnography.
Ethnography
