SMPA 2151 Midterm questions well
answered graded A+
Deductive Reasoning
Reasoning from a general law down to specific facts or cases
Inductive Reasoning
Reasoning from particular facts up to a general conclusion
Grounded Research
- A methodological approach in which a researcher engages in analysis and data collection
concurrently, working back and forth between these processes to develop theoretical
explanations of the data
- Familiarize with group before writing research questions
Empiricism
The view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on
observation and experimentation
Quantitative Research
Research that provides data that can be expressed with numbers, such as ranks or scales.
,Qualitative Research
Research that relies on what is seen in field or naturalistic settings more than on statistical data
All Empirical Research Methods
Quantitative:
- Surveys
- Polls
- Experimental (Lab or Field)
- Content Analysis
- Focus Groups
Qualitative
- Ethnography
- Participant Observation (Overt or Covert)
- Historiography
- Culture Studies
- Material Studies
- Legal Studies
- Focus Groups
Operationalization
- Moving from concepts of an idea to a variable
, Example:
- Concept: economy is doing good
- Operationalization: economic indicators such as unemployment, GDP, etc.
Conceptual and Operational Variables
- Conceptual: abstract idea or construct that is being studied in research
- Operational: the specific, measurable way that the conceptual variable is defined and captured
in a study
- Ex: Conceptual variable (stress) is operationalized to become an operational variable by using a
self-report, physiological, behavioral, or clinical measure
Barriers to Operationalization and Effects
Conceptual Ambiguity:
- If a concept is too broad or poorly defined, it becomes difficult to translate into measurable
terms
- Leads to inconsistencies in measurement and difficult in replicating studies
Lack of Valid Measures:
- Some constructs, especially psychological or social ones may not have established, valid, and
reliable measurement tools
- Ex: How to measure happiness
- Can result in weak or misleading findings due to measurement errors
Subjectivity in Measurement:
answered graded A+
Deductive Reasoning
Reasoning from a general law down to specific facts or cases
Inductive Reasoning
Reasoning from particular facts up to a general conclusion
Grounded Research
- A methodological approach in which a researcher engages in analysis and data collection
concurrently, working back and forth between these processes to develop theoretical
explanations of the data
- Familiarize with group before writing research questions
Empiricism
The view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on
observation and experimentation
Quantitative Research
Research that provides data that can be expressed with numbers, such as ranks or scales.
,Qualitative Research
Research that relies on what is seen in field or naturalistic settings more than on statistical data
All Empirical Research Methods
Quantitative:
- Surveys
- Polls
- Experimental (Lab or Field)
- Content Analysis
- Focus Groups
Qualitative
- Ethnography
- Participant Observation (Overt or Covert)
- Historiography
- Culture Studies
- Material Studies
- Legal Studies
- Focus Groups
Operationalization
- Moving from concepts of an idea to a variable
, Example:
- Concept: economy is doing good
- Operationalization: economic indicators such as unemployment, GDP, etc.
Conceptual and Operational Variables
- Conceptual: abstract idea or construct that is being studied in research
- Operational: the specific, measurable way that the conceptual variable is defined and captured
in a study
- Ex: Conceptual variable (stress) is operationalized to become an operational variable by using a
self-report, physiological, behavioral, or clinical measure
Barriers to Operationalization and Effects
Conceptual Ambiguity:
- If a concept is too broad or poorly defined, it becomes difficult to translate into measurable
terms
- Leads to inconsistencies in measurement and difficult in replicating studies
Lack of Valid Measures:
- Some constructs, especially psychological or social ones may not have established, valid, and
reliable measurement tools
- Ex: How to measure happiness
- Can result in weak or misleading findings due to measurement errors
Subjectivity in Measurement:
