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7 – Measuring Variables
Why should I care? The accuracy of your project depends on whether or not you are measuring the right phenomenon. The type of measurement determines what kind of tables and calculations you can generate, and also determines how far you can go when you interpr...
8 – Building a Hypothesis
Why Should I Care? How the data is gathered can affect the results, and the amount of time and resources needed to complete the project. You need to think this through before you start the project. Definitions Research Question: A broad question that guide...
9 – Types of Logic
Why Should I Care? Your understanding of the problem depends on the type of logic you are using. The earthy – got your feet on the ground – scientists prefer an inductive approach. The distant – rather be in an office – scientists usually prefer a deductive a...
10 – Operationalization
Why Should I Care? How the data is gathered can affect the results, and the amount of time and resources needed to complete the project. You need to think this through before you start the project. Definitions Operationalization: Setting up systems of measu...
11 – Models and Simulations
Why Should I Care? Sometimes, you cannot operationalize. It would be too risky, not feasible, or unethical. This is when you build a model and run simulations. Definitions Model: an artificial – often simple version – environment designed to run simulations...
12 – Sampling
Why Should I Care? A bad sample will kill your scientific power. That’s all there is to it. Definitions Population: A set of observable objects, which could be individuals, groups, documents, organizations, etc. that you are interested in studying. Sample:...
13 – Research Power
Why Should I Care? The scientific strength, or power, of your research depends on several key traits of your methodology. The stronger the method: the more credible your results and conclusions. 3 Levels of Power Exploratory: The objective of exploratory r...
14 – Establishing Cause
Why Should I Care? Something is a problem. We can reduce the negative impacts, but that is called a “band-aid” solution. It does not fix the root of the problem. If only we could find the root cause of the problem, then the solution would actually fix the pro...
15 – The Ethics of Social Research
Why Should I Care? Research projects may incur harm. This issue has to be dealt with by universities to reduce the harm, and make sure that research is designed as ethically as possible. Definitions Morals: What is right and wrong, as defined by social norm...
16 – Communicating Results
Why Should I Care? The type of data, and your disciplinary focus, will determine the medium you will use to report the data. Tables & Graphs (p. 254) Used for (examples) Frequency Table Opinion polls Cross-Tabulation Table Sociology data, subgroups ...
16 – Averages
Why Should I Care? You can manipulate numbers tell the story you wish to tell. Is this is unethical and evil? Of course! So knowing how others are – or not – using basic tricks of statistics will help you read through the lies. Here are some basic calculation...
Synthesis Table
At the beginning of the study… Exploratory Descriptive Explanatory Variables have been defined Some but not all Yes In detail Population has been defined Not yet ...
Latin Terms Used in Law, the Humanities, and the Social Sciences
Define the term. Associate the term to one of the following themes (religion, proverb, law, logic, observation) a contrario a fortiori a posteriori a priori ad hoc ad nauseam ad rem ad valorem alias alma mater annum ante litteram bona fide ca...
Greek Terms Used in Law, the Humanities, and the Social Sciences
Please define the following terms. ana-lusis anthropo- archaeo- astro- chroma di- eco- electr- ethno- (ethnos) geo- hema- historia hydro- -logy (logia) macro- micro- mono- nanos -nomy (nomos) physi- politikos poly- pr...
Important Terms
Glossary Please complete the definitions for the following terms. Abstract Accidental Sample Analysis Bias (Researcher Bias) Case study Categories Causation Central tendency Citation Common Sense Conclusion Content Analysis Convenience Samp...