Social Science Research Terms

Social Science Research Terms

• Anecdotal: Refers to a single person's story, often used to report qualitative research findings, and is a type of case study.
• Anthropology: Studies the similarities and differences between global cultures, exploring their origins, development, and evolution over time, including aspects like language, migration, genetics, tribes, subcultures, symbols, rituals, history, and social organization.

Research Methods

• Case Study: An in-depth examination of a single person, group, or event.
• Content Analysis: A form of observation that involves analyzing data, often historically or across genres, but can be challenging to remain objective.
• Experiments: Involve manipulating variables to observe the effects, typically comparing a control group to an experimental group.
• Interview: A qualitative research method involving open-ended questions to gather more in-depth information, often reported anecdotally.
• Meta Study: A self-referential study that examines its own research methodology.
• Observation: A research method that involves observing participants' behaviors, providing more reliable data but can be difficult to record accurately.
• Survey: A carefully planned set of questions administered to a representative sample of a population, allowing data to be extrapolated to the entire population.

Research Concepts

• Cause: An independent variable that comes first in a causal relationship.
• Conclusion: A statement based on experimental measurements or observations.
• Confederate: A person who appears to be a participant in an experiment but is actually part of the research team.
• Correlation: The relationship between two variables.
• Effect: The dependent variable in a causal relationship.
• Hypothesis: An educated guess that guides research.
• Objective Data: Data that is directly observed and measurable.
• Outlier: A single data point that deviates significantly from the overall trend.
• Participant: An individual who takes part in a research study or experiment.
• Primary Research: Data collected firsthand, directly from the source, which can be quantitative or qualitative.
• Quantitative: Involves measuring and analyzing numerical data, often using graphs and statistics.
• Qualitative: Focuses on exploring why and how, often using open-ended questions, charts, and anecdotal reporting.
• Representative Sample: A sample that reflects the diversity of the population being studied, ensuring accurate and generalizable results.
• Result: The outcome of a research study conducted on a representative sample.
• Respondent: The person who answers research questions, often through a survey or questionnaire.
• Scientific Research: A well-controlled, repeated, and representative study that follows a specific procedure to achieve a purpose.
• Secondary Research: The analysis and application of existing research data collected by others, often through books, journals, and websites.

Social Science Disciplines

• Psychology: Examines why individuals behave in certain ways, exploring the human mind, brain, and behavior, including aspects like learning, memory, and mental health.
• Sociology: Investigates the impact of group membership on individuals, examining how social structures, institutions, and relationships influence human behavior.
• Anthropology: Studies the diversity of human cultures, exploring their origins, development, and evolution over time.

Understanding Research

• Differences between Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology: These disciplines have distinct research foci, with anthropology exploring cultural differences, sociology examining social structures, and psychology delving into individual behavior and mental processes.