Correlation

"If our data showed that all blacks voted Democratic and all whites Republican, it would be obvious that there was a perfect correlation, or a significant statistical relationship, between race and voting." (Pg 45, Lines 1-4)

A mutual relationship or connection between two or more things.

Correlation means two things are connected.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Empirical

"The scientific method deals only with observable-empirical-facts and events." (Pg 49, Line 1)

Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. (Definition)

Empirical means learning from what you can see or hear instead of guessing.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Halo Effect

"Another problem is the halo effect-the tendency of respondents to give "good-citizen" responses, whether the responses are truthful or not."

The tendency for an impression created in one area to influence opinion in another area.

The halo-effect is when you like one thing about something so you think it's all good.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Normative

"The scientific method is descriptive and explanatory, but not normative." (Pg 49, Lines 8-9)

Establishing, relating to, or deriving from a standard or norm, especially of behavior.

Normative means what is seen as normal.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Participant Observation

"Field research often involves participant observation, where the researcher both observes and participates in the society being studied." (Pg 59, Lines 21-22)

Participant observation is a research method where the researcher immerses themselves in a particular social setting or group, observing the behaviors, interactions, and practices of the participants.

Participant observation is when you watch people by hanging out with them and doing what they do.

https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/participant-observation/

Public Opinion

"Public Opinion in democracies is given a great deal of attention." (Pg 57, Line 30)

Views prevalent among the general public.

Public Opinion is what a lot of people think.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Salient Issue

"Salient issues are those that people think about most and about which they hold strong and stable opinions." (Pg 57, Lines 34-36)

An issue about which most people have thoughts and hold strong and stable opinions.

A salient issue is a big problem that people notice a lot.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method, Page 62.

Sample

"Most surveys ask questions of a representative sample of the population rather then question the entire population." (Pg 54, Lines 8-9)

A portion drawn from a population, the study of which is intended to lead to statistical estimates of the attributes of the whole population.

A sample is a group taken from a bigger group.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Significant

"A relationship that is not likely to have occurred by chance is said to be significant." (Pg 44, Lines 9-10)

Suggesting a meaning or message that is not explicitly stated.

Significant means the results are real and not random.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Theory

"Of course, especially in the early stages of a science, research may consist largely of collecting data, but the ultimate goal of the scientific method is to develop theory, or verifiable statements about relationships among facts and events." (Pg 49, Lines 15-18)

A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.

A theory is an idea that explains why something happens.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Universal Statement

"This is a universal statement covering every evangelical or born-again Christian, and universal statements are seldom true in the social sciences." (Pg 50, Lines 33-35)

A universal statement is one which expresses the fact that all objects have a particular property.

A universal statement is when someone says something is true for everyone.

https://proofwiki.org/wiki/Definition:Universal_Statement

Science

"A science may be broadly defined as any organized body of knowledge, or it may be more narrowly defined as a discipline that employs the scientific method." (Pg 42, Lines 1-2)

The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.

Science is learning about the world by looking, testing, and experimenting.

Google Dictionary, Powered by Oxford Languages.

Random Sample

"In a random sample, each person in the universe has an equal chance of being selected for interviewing." (Pg 55, Lines 3-4)

A random sample is a selection that is chosen purely by chance, with no predictability, from a population.

A random sample is when you pick something without thinking or predicting.

https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/random-sample.html

Field Research

"Field research is essentially going where the action is, watching closely, and taking notes." (Pg 59, Lines 7-8)

Collection of information outside a laboratory, library or workplace setting

Field research is studying things by seeing them for yourself.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_research

Scientific Attitude

"Admittedly, it is difficult to maintain a truly scientific Attitude when examining social behavior." (Pg 50, Lines 23-24)

Scientific attitudes encompass essential traits for success in science, including curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, and creativity.

Scientific attitude is being curious and careful when learning about things.

https://datasciencemilan.org/what-does-having-a-scientific-mindset-entail.html