Sociology ch 2 vocab - Summary You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking like a Sociologist PDF

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Chapter 2 vocab from the book, most of it was not in letcures, but on the test. ...

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Operationalization - the process of assigning a precise method for measuring for measuring a term being examined for use in a particular study Validity - the extent to which an instrument measures what it is intended to measure Reliability - likelihood of obtaining consistent results using the same measure Generalizability - the extent to which we can claim our findings inform us about a group larger than the one we studied Placebo - a simulated treatment given to control group in an experimental study to factor out the effect of merely being in an experiment from the effect of the actual treatment under consideration Double-blind study - an experimental study where neither the subjects nor the researchers know who is in the treatment group and who is in the control group Reflexivity - analyzing and critically considering our own role in and effect on our research Case Study - an intensive investigation of one particular unit of analysis in order to describe it or uncover its mechanisms Comparative Research - a mythology by which two or more entities (such as countries) which are similar in many dimensions but differ on one in question are compared to learn about the dimension that differs between them Content Analysis - a systematic analysis of the content rather than the structure of a communication such as a written wok speech or film Reverse Causality - a situation in which the researcher believes that A results in a change in B, but B, in fact is causing A Moderator Variable - commonly denoted as just M, is a third variable that affects the strength of the relationship between a dependent and independent variable In correlation, a moderator is a third variable that affects the correlation of two variables....