This document provides an overview of key concepts from Chapter 6 of an Introduction to Sociology textbook. It defines and describes quantitative and qualitative research methods. It also outlines various data collection techniques used in sociological research like surveys, interviews, observation, sampling methods, ethics review, and more. The chapter examines both quantitative and qualitative research approaches.

1. Introduction to Sociology

2. Week 5: Chapter 6 Review

3. CHAPTER 6
Quantitative research-
• Research that collects and reports data primarily in
numerical form.
Qualitative research-
• Research that is about exploring issues, understanding
phenomena, and answering questions by analyzing and
making sense of unstructured data.

4. CHAPTER 6
Literature review-
• Surveys scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g.
dissertations, conference proceedings) relevant to a
particular issue, area of research, or theory, providing a
description, summary, and critical evaluation of each
work.
Survey-
• A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or
behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a
representative, random sample of the group.
Self-administered questionnaire-
• A set of questions given to respondents who read the
instructions and fill in the answers themselves.
Open-ended vs. close-ended questions-
• Questions + answer categories
• Ex: are you____Male____Female?

5. CHAPTER 6
Matrix questions-
• Several questions with the same set of answers. For
example: Strongly Agree, Agree, or Strongly Disagree.
Demographics-
• The characteristics of a population with respect to age,
race, and gender.

6. CHAPTER 6
Field research-
• The main qualitative research method and involves the
study of social life in its natural setting.
Observational research-
• The gathering of primary data by observing relevant
people, actions, and situations.
Participant observation-
• An observation procedure in which the observer
participates with those being observed. The observer
becomes "one of them”.
Hawthorne effect-
• The alteration of behavior by the subjects of a study due
to their awareness of being observed.

7. CHAPTER 6
Reactive effects-
• The changes in an individual or group behavior that are
due to being observed or otherwise studied.
Accretion measures-
• The measures are deposits of something left behind
(used in non-reactive observation)
Content analysis-
• The systematic coding and objective recording of data,
guided by some rationale
Unobtrusive methods-
• Methods in which research respondents do not have to
be disturbed for data or gathered.
Triangulation-
• The use of multiple methods to study one research
question.

8. CHAPTER 6
Sampling-
• The process of selecting participants for a study of the
population. The sample is then considered a portion of
the population that is studied in order to make inferences
about the entire population.
Heterogeneity-
• The variability of the inputs and outputs of services,
which causes services to tend to be less standardized
and uniform than goods.
Convenience sample-
• A form of nonprobability sample using respondents who
are convenient or readily accessible to the researcher—
for example, employees, friends, or relatives.
Random Sample-
• A sample that fairly represents a population because
each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

9. CHAPTER 6
Ethics-
• Standards of right and wrong that transcend economic
and legal boundaries. Ethical standards deal with the way
we treat others and restrain our own actions because of
the desires, expectations, or rights of others, or with our
obligations to them.
IRB-
• A committee that reviews research proposals to ensure
that ethical
standards have been met.