Question: Research methods

Answer: approaches that social scientists use for investigating the answer to questions

Question: Quantitative methods

Answer: methods that seek to obtain information about the social world that is already in or can be converted to numeric form

Question: Qualitative methods

Answer: methods that attempt to collect information about the social world that cannot be readily converted to numeric form

Question: deductive approach

Answer: a research approach that starts with a theory, forms a hypothesis, makes empirical observations, and then analyzes the data to confirm, reject, or modify the original theory

Question: inductive approach

Answer: a research approach that starts with empirical observations and then works to form a theory

Question: correlation

Answer: simultaneous variation in two variables

Question: causation

Answer: the notion that a change in one factor results in a corresponding change in another

Question: reverse causation

Answer: a situation in which the research believes that A results in a change in B, but B, in fact, is causing A

Question: dependent variable

Answer: the outcome that the researcher is trying to explain

Question: independent variable

Answer: a measured factor that the researcher believes has a causal impact on the dependent variable