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The study of society based on scientific observation of behavior. Focuses on action, quantitative data, neutrality, aims to find objective reality.
Positivism
Gathering data from a natural environment, participant observation
Field Research
The variable that changes
Dependent Variable
Participating and and observing thinking and behavior in social setting
Ethnography
What are the steps of the scientific method?
1. Ask a question
2. Research Existing Sources
3. Formulate a hypothesis
4. Design and Conduct a study
5. Draw Conclusions
6. Report Results
Focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world. Favors qualitative data.
Interpretive
Experiments, surveys, and field research are:
Primary Source Data Collection
The group that you're studying
Population
A systematic analysis of secondary data to identify themes, patterns, or values
Content Analysis
When people change their behavior because they know they're being watched:
Focuses on the need for social change. Favors mixed-methods research, critical research.
Critical
Content Analysis and Historical Analysis are:
Secondary data analysis
A smaller subset of the population included in your study
Sample
Using data collected by others and applying new interpretations
Secondary Data Analysis
Exposed to the independent variables
Experimental Group
Testing of hypothesis under controlled conditions
Experiments
Focus on data that can be measured numerically
Quantitative Research
Variables move in the same direction
Positive Correlation
A systematic analysis of historical records to understand the past
Historical Analysis
Collect data from subjects who respond to to a series of questions, often in the form of a questionnaire
Survey
Independent Variable
Variables move in different directions
Negative Correlation
Variables move together, but are unrelated
Spurious Correlations