Final Review for Methods of Research Fall 2010

Key Terms

Sampling distribution Response rate Multivariate analysis

Causation Survey Dependent variable
Operationalization Poll Independent variable
Population Case study Central tendency
Sample Ethnography Frequency distribution
Probability sampling Field research Standard deviation
Quota sampling In-depth interview Nominal/discrete variable
Stratified sampling Participant observation Continuous/Scale variable
Statistic Coding Chi-square
Random selection Content analysis Pearson’s r
Experimental model Unobtrusive measure Regression line
Control group Evaluation research Standard error
Focus group Codebook Correlation matrix
Pretesting Contingency table Linear regression
Randomization Univariate analysis
CATI Bivariate analysis

Other important items to know

List the steps involved in creating an index

What is a Likert scale?
What is a Guttman scale?
What is the Bogardus social distance scale?
What are typologies used for in social science research?

What is the normal distribution and why is it important?

What is a sampling frame and what are some problems associated with making population
generalizations from a sampling frame?
What are some different ways a researcher can select a sample?

When would an experiment be useful?

What are some important elements of the “classical experiment”?
What are some examples of “natural experiments”?
What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the experimental method?

What is the difference between an open-ended survey and closed-ended survey?

What is social desirability and why is it a problem in surveys?
Does the order you ask questions in a survey matter?
What are some examples of good response rates?
What are some advantages and disadvantages of the different methods for conducting surveys?

What is the primary strength of field research?

What is an example of a research question that is well suited for field research?
Final Review for Methods of Research Fall 2010

Define and illustrate the following paradigms: naturalism, ethnomethodology, grounded theory,
case studies and extended case method, institutional ethnography, and participatory
action research.
What are the stages of a complete interview process? Describe them.
When would a researcher use a focus group?

What does it men for something to be reliable? Valid?

Give an example of a type of evaluation research and why someone might choose evaluation
research over other types of research.

How is qualitative analysis different from quantitative analysis? How is it similar?

Summarize the role of memoing in qualitative data analysis and compare these types: code notes,
theoretical notes, and operational notes
Compare these types of memos: elemental, sorting, and integrating.

Be able to identify and use several types of descriptive statistics

Be able to identify and use at least one type of inferential statistic
Understand the basic logic underlying a linear regression model
Define measures of association and explain the logic behind such measures, using the
proportionate reduction of error principle

What is SPSS?
Why would someone recode variables in SPSS?
Explain two techniques for handling the “don’t know” response.