MACIONIS/GERBER SOCIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
PREPARATION MANUAL 2026
◉ empirical data/evidence. Answer: information we can verify with
our senses
◉ positivist Sociology. Answer: the study of sociology based on
systematic observation of social behavior
◉ concept. Answer: a mental construct that represents some part of
the world in a simplified form
◉ variable. Answer: a concept whose value changes from case to
case
◉ measurement. Answer: a procedure for determining the value of a
variable in a specific case
◉ operationalizing a variable. Answer: specifying exactly what is to
be measured before assigning a value to a variable
◉ reliability. Answer: consistency in measurement
, ◉ validity. Answer: actually measuring exactly what you intend to
measure
◉ cause and effect. Answer: a relationship in which change in one
variable causes change in another
◉ independent variable. Answer: the variable that causes the change
◉ dependent Variable. Answer: the variable that changes
◉ correlation. Answer: a relationship in which two or more
variables change together
◉ spurious correlation. Answer: an apparent, but false relationship
between two or more variables that is caused by some other
variable
◉ control. Answer: holding constant all variables except one in order
to see clearly the effect of that variable
◉ replication. Answer: rrepetition of research by other investigators
◉ interpretive sociology. Answer: the study of society that focuses
on the meanings people attach to their social world
PREPARATION MANUAL 2026
◉ empirical data/evidence. Answer: information we can verify with
our senses
◉ positivist Sociology. Answer: the study of sociology based on
systematic observation of social behavior
◉ concept. Answer: a mental construct that represents some part of
the world in a simplified form
◉ variable. Answer: a concept whose value changes from case to
case
◉ measurement. Answer: a procedure for determining the value of a
variable in a specific case
◉ operationalizing a variable. Answer: specifying exactly what is to
be measured before assigning a value to a variable
◉ reliability. Answer: consistency in measurement
, ◉ validity. Answer: actually measuring exactly what you intend to
measure
◉ cause and effect. Answer: a relationship in which change in one
variable causes change in another
◉ independent variable. Answer: the variable that causes the change
◉ dependent Variable. Answer: the variable that changes
◉ correlation. Answer: a relationship in which two or more
variables change together
◉ spurious correlation. Answer: an apparent, but false relationship
between two or more variables that is caused by some other
variable
◉ control. Answer: holding constant all variables except one in order
to see clearly the effect of that variable
◉ replication. Answer: rrepetition of research by other investigators
◉ interpretive sociology. Answer: the study of society that focuses
on the meanings people attach to their social world
