Halo effect

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

Generalization from the perception of one outstanding personality trait to an overly favorable evaluation of the whole personality.

Tendency to have a positive bias/impression based on one's characteristics.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p. 58

Correlation

If our data showed that all black 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

A mutual relationship or connection between two or more things.

A relationship between two things that typically change together.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p.45

Experiment

An experiment is a scientific test that is controlled by the researcher and designed to observe the effect of a program or treatment.

An operation or procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law.

A controlled test with an independent and dependent variable that supports a hypotheses.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p. 51

Normative

The scientific method is descriptive and explanatory, but not normative.

Of, relating to, or determining norms or standards.

What something should be

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p.49

Public Opinion

Public opinion in democracies is given great deal of attention.

A summation of public expression regarding a specific issue or event.

The general point of view of a group of people on a topic.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p.57

Scientific Attitude

Admittedly, it is difficult to maintain a truly scientific attitude when examining social behavior.

The desire to know and understand, questioning to all statements, search for data and their meaning, search for verification, and consideration of consequences.

To doubt or question proven scientific theories.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method. p.50

Random Sample

In a random sample, each person in the universe has an equal chance of being selected for interviewing.

A subset of individuals (a sample) chosen from a larger set (a population).

A group of people chosen at random for interviewing.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method. p 55

Null hypothesis

If there are no measurable differences, then the scientist must accept the null hypothesis-the statement that the program or treatment has no effect.

(In a statistical test) The hypothesis that there is no significant difference between specified populations, any observed difference being due to sampling or experimental error.

Treatment has no effect or does not work.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p51-52

Sampling Error

But survey researchers can estimate this sampling error through the mathematics of probability.

Error in a statistical analysis arising from the unrepresentativeness of the sample taken.

Error occurs in the selection of sample, and it does not represent the whole group

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p.55

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 a theory, or verifiable statements about relationships among facts and events.

A plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena.

Verifiable relationship between facts and events

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method. p.49

Ethnography

Ethnography is the systematic description of a society's customary behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes.

The scientific description of the customs of individual peoples and cultures.

People's cultural beliefs, values and ideology.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p.60

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.

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.

Any type of organized knowledge.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method p.42

Case study

A case study is an in-depth investigation of a particular event in order to understand it as fully as possible.

A process or record of research in which detailed consideration is given to the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time.

In depth study of a specific topic to fully understand.

Social Sciences and the Scientific Method. p.61