Variable Vocab
What is the variable called that a researcher examines as a possible CAUSE of an outcome?
Independent variable
What research method collects information by asking people questions on a questionnaire?
Survey
A sociologist studies whether hours of social media use affect hours of sleep. What is the independent variable?
The amount of time spent on social media
A researcher records how many hours students play video games each week. What type of data is this?
Quantitative data
A researcher wants to study teenagers' sleep habits. What is one example of quantitative data they could collect?
Hours of sleep per night, bedtime, or number of hours spent on a phone.
What is the variable called that a researcher measures as the outcome of a study?
Dependent variable
What research method involves watching people in their natural environment without interfering?
Field observations
A researcher investigates whether different types of music affect quiz scores. What is the dependent variable?
Quiz scores
Students describe in their own words how peer pressure affects them. What type of data is this?
Qualitative data
In an experiment, what is the name of the group that does not receive the treatment and provides a comparison?
Control group
What type of variable includes numerical measurements such as age, income, and hours of sleep?
Quantitative variable
What research method deliberately changes a variable to investigate cause and effect?
Experiment
A researcher studies whether students' GPAs can be affected by working at a part-time job. Name both variables
Independent variable: hours worked. Dependent variable: GPA.
Students rate their stress from 1 to 10. What type of data is this?
Quantitative data
A study finds that students who sleep more tend to earn higher grades. Does this automatically prove that more sleep causes higher grades?
No. It shows a relationship, but it does not prove cause and effect.
What type of variable describes categories or qualities, such as eye color or favorite sport?
Qualitative variable
When a researcher immerses themselves in a field observation it is called _____?
Participant observation
A researcher compares schools that start at 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and counts student tardies. What are the independent and dependent variables?
Independent variable: school start time. Dependent variable: number of tardies.
A survey asks students to choose their favorite music genre: rap, country, pop, or rock. What type of data is this?
Qualitative data
What were two ethical issues with the Stanford Prison Experiment?
Supervision, abuse, exploitation, harassment, informed consent, research integrity, etc..
A researcher keeps the classroom temperature, lesson, and quiz the same for every group. What are these factors called?
Controlled variables
What are the 7 steps to sociology's scientific method?
Identify the problem, review past literature, hypothesis, pick a method, collect data, analyze data, state findings
A sociologist studies whether students' sense of belonging is affected by their participation in school clubs. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
Independent variable: participation in school clubs. Dependent variable: sense of belonging.
A researcher records the number of students who play sports and interviews them about why they play. Identify both types of data.
Quantitative data: the number of students who play sports. Qualitative data: their interview responses.
Explain the Milgram experiment and its purpose
People told to shock others that are taking a test in the other room. Trying to see how cruel people will be when they are directed to be cruel.