Questions and Answers
What does 'theoretical' refer to in social research?
Empirical research involves understanding the world based on subjective opinions.
False
What is the aim of descriptive questions in research?
To describe what is happening or what exists in a particular context.
Nomothetic research pertains to general laws or rules that apply to ______.
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Causal questions aim to determine whether one or more variables [blank] one or more outcome variables.
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What is the initial step in the structured process of research?
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What does the research process often cycle back to after data analysis?
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A well-defined structure in research is unnecessary for maintaining clarity.
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What is the starting point of any research study?
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Which of the following terms refers to the development, exploration, or testing of theories about social phenomena?
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What does the term 'empirical' refer to in social research?
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Probabilistic research acknowledges that certainty is achievable in social research.
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What is the aim of descriptive questions in research?
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What does a causal question aim to determine?
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Which of these is a component of a study?
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What does the narrowing of focus involve in a research study?
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The research process often cycles back to ______, where findings may lead to new insights or modifications of existing theories.
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Study Notes
Five Big Words in Social Research
- Theoretical: Development and testing of theories regarding social phenomena to understand world operations.
- Empirical: Grounded in observable reality, relying on data collection to support or refute theories.
- Nomothetic: Involves general laws applicable to groups/populations, contrasting with idiographic, which focuses on individual cases.
- Probabilistic: Emphasizes that certainty is elusive in social research, with findings expressed in probabilities instead of absolutes.
- Causal: Examines the cause-effect relationships among variables, crucial for understanding variable interactions.
Types of Research Questions
- Descriptive Questions: Aim to describe situations or contexts, like public opinion polls reflecting voting preferences, without exploring relationships.
- Relational Questions: Investigate relationships between variables, such as the correlation between gender and voting preference, indicating patterns without establishing causation.
- Causal Questions: Seek to determine if one or more variables influence outcomes, e.g., whether a political advertising campaign sways voter preferences. Require demonstrating a clear cause-effect relationship.
Cumulative Nature of Research Questions
- Descriptive Studies: Provide foundational data, measuring or observing variables.
- Relational Studies: Build on descriptive findings by exploring how variables interrelate.
- Causal Studies: Assume prior descriptive and relational insights to analyze cause-effect dynamics.
Importance of Research Questions
- Clearly defined research questions inform the design and methodology of studies, keeping research focused and guiding appropriate analytical techniques.
Structure of Research
- General Structure: Follows an hourglass model, starting broadly and narrowing to specific questions before expanding during analysis.
- Initial Area of Interest: Begins with a wide-ranging topic or problem, e.g., the effect of technology on student math performance.
- Narrowing the Focus: The broad interest is refined into a specific hypothesis for research feasibility, such as predicting the effectiveness of a novel computer instruction method.
- Direct Measurement: At the narrowest point, researchers collect data relevant to the focused question or hypothesis.
- Data Analysis: Post-collection, various analytical methods are employed (statistical, thematic) to interpret findings.
- Returning to Theory: Findings often loop back to theory, prompting new insights and potential theory refinement in an iterative research process.
- Importance of Structure: A systematic research structure ensures organization, clarity, and effective communication of results.
Components of a Study
- Research Problem: The foundational issue or area requiring investigation that initiates the research study, e.g., factors leading to unemployment among recent graduates.
- Research Question: A precise question derived from the research problem that directs the study’s focus and objectives.
Five Big Words in Social Research
- Theoretical: Development and testing of theories regarding social phenomena to understand world operations.
- Empirical: Grounded in observable reality, relying on data collection to support or refute theories.
- Nomothetic: Involves general laws applicable to groups/populations, contrasting with idiographic, which focuses on individual cases.
- Probabilistic: Emphasizes that certainty is elusive in social research, with findings expressed in probabilities instead of absolutes.
- Causal: Examines the cause-effect relationships among variables, crucial for understanding variable interactions.
Types of Research Questions
- Descriptive Questions: Aim to describe situations or contexts, like public opinion polls reflecting voting preferences, without exploring relationships.
- Relational Questions: Investigate relationships between variables, such as the correlation between gender and voting preference, indicating patterns without establishing causation.
- Causal Questions: Seek to determine if one or more variables influence outcomes, e.g., whether a political advertising campaign sways voter preferences. Require demonstrating a clear cause-effect relationship.
Cumulative Nature of Research Questions
- Descriptive Studies: Provide foundational data, measuring or observing variables.
- Relational Studies: Build on descriptive findings by exploring how variables interrelate.
- Causal Studies: Assume prior descriptive and relational insights to analyze cause-effect dynamics.
Importance of Research Questions
- Clearly defined research questions inform the design and methodology of studies, keeping research focused and guiding appropriate analytical techniques.
Structure of Research
- General Structure: Follows an hourglass model, starting broadly and narrowing to specific questions before expanding during analysis.
- Initial Area of Interest: Begins with a wide-ranging topic or problem, e.g., the effect of technology on student math performance.
- Narrowing the Focus: The broad interest is refined into a specific hypothesis for research feasibility, such as predicting the effectiveness of a novel computer instruction method.
- Direct Measurement: At the narrowest point, researchers collect data relevant to the focused question or hypothesis.
- Data Analysis: Post-collection, various analytical methods are employed (statistical, thematic) to interpret findings.
- Returning to Theory: Findings often loop back to theory, prompting new insights and potential theory refinement in an iterative research process.
- Importance of Structure: A systematic research structure ensures organization, clarity, and effective communication of results.
Components of a Study
- Research Problem: The foundational issue or area requiring investigation that initiates the research study, e.g., factors leading to unemployment among recent graduates.
- Research Question: A precise question derived from the research problem that directs the study’s focus and objectives.
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Description
Explore crucial terms and types of research questions in social science. This quiz covers theoretical and empirical aspects as well as different question types like descriptive and relational. Test your understanding of how these terms apply to social research.
