Social Science Research Methods
1. Research A question about one or more topics or concepts that can be answered
Ques- tion
through research.
2. Unit of Analysis A unit about which information is collected.
3. Authorities Socially defined sources of knowledge.
4. Personal Inquiry Inquiry that employs the senses' evidence.
5. Scientific Method A way of conducting empirical research following rules that specify
objectivity,
logic, and communication among a community of knowledge seekers
and the connection between research and theory.
6. Positivist View
of Science A view that human knowledge must be based on what can be perceived.
7. Post-Positivist
View of A view that knowledge is not based on irrefutable observable grounds,
Science
that is always somewhat speculative, but that science can provide relatively
solid grounds for that speculation.
8. Objectivity The ability to see the world as it really is.
9. Intersubjectivity Agreements about reality that result from comparing the observations of
more than one observer.
10. Theory An explanation about how and why something is as it is.
11. Basic Research Research designed to add to our fundamental understanding and
knowledge of the social world regardless of practical or immediate
implications.
12. Applied Research Research intended to be useful in the immediate future and to
suggest action or increase ettectiveness in some area.
13. Exploratory
Re- search Groundbreaking research on a relatively unstudied topic or in a new area.
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, Social Science Research Methods
14. Qualitative
Data Analysis Analysis that results in the interpretation of action or representation of
meanings in the researcher's own words.
15. Descriptive Study Research designed to describe groups, activities, situations, or events.
16. Quantitative
Data Analysis based on the statistical summary of data.
Analysis
17. Explanatory Research designed to explain why subjects vary in one way or another.
Re- search
18. Evaluation
Re- search Research designed to assess the impacts of programs, policies, or legal
changes.
19. Concepts Words or signs that refer to phenomena that share common
characteristics.
20. Conceptualiza-
tion The process of clarifying what we mean by a concept.
21. Variable A characteristic that can vary from on unit of analysis to another or for one
unit of analysis over time.
22. Hypothesis A testable statement about how two or more variables are expected to
relate to one another.
23. Dependent
Vari- able A variable that a researcher sees as being attected or influenced by another
variable (contrast with independent variable).
24. Independen
t Variable A variable that a researcher sees as attecting or influencing another variable
25. Antecedent (contrast with dependent variable).
Vari- able
A variable that comes before both an independent variable and a
dependent variable.
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1. Research A question about one or more topics or concepts that can be answered
Ques- tion
through research.
2. Unit of Analysis A unit about which information is collected.
3. Authorities Socially defined sources of knowledge.
4. Personal Inquiry Inquiry that employs the senses' evidence.
5. Scientific Method A way of conducting empirical research following rules that specify
objectivity,
logic, and communication among a community of knowledge seekers
and the connection between research and theory.
6. Positivist View
of Science A view that human knowledge must be based on what can be perceived.
7. Post-Positivist
View of A view that knowledge is not based on irrefutable observable grounds,
Science
that is always somewhat speculative, but that science can provide relatively
solid grounds for that speculation.
8. Objectivity The ability to see the world as it really is.
9. Intersubjectivity Agreements about reality that result from comparing the observations of
more than one observer.
10. Theory An explanation about how and why something is as it is.
11. Basic Research Research designed to add to our fundamental understanding and
knowledge of the social world regardless of practical or immediate
implications.
12. Applied Research Research intended to be useful in the immediate future and to
suggest action or increase ettectiveness in some area.
13. Exploratory
Re- search Groundbreaking research on a relatively unstudied topic or in a new area.
1/
7
, Social Science Research Methods
14. Qualitative
Data Analysis Analysis that results in the interpretation of action or representation of
meanings in the researcher's own words.
15. Descriptive Study Research designed to describe groups, activities, situations, or events.
16. Quantitative
Data Analysis based on the statistical summary of data.
Analysis
17. Explanatory Research designed to explain why subjects vary in one way or another.
Re- search
18. Evaluation
Re- search Research designed to assess the impacts of programs, policies, or legal
changes.
19. Concepts Words or signs that refer to phenomena that share common
characteristics.
20. Conceptualiza-
tion The process of clarifying what we mean by a concept.
21. Variable A characteristic that can vary from on unit of analysis to another or for one
unit of analysis over time.
22. Hypothesis A testable statement about how two or more variables are expected to
relate to one another.
23. Dependent
Vari- able A variable that a researcher sees as being attected or influenced by another
variable (contrast with independent variable).
24. Independen
t Variable A variable that a researcher sees as attecting or influencing another variable
25. Antecedent (contrast with dependent variable).
Vari- able
A variable that comes before both an independent variable and a
dependent variable.
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