scopes midterm Flashcards by Unknown Unknown

What is Empiricism?

Knowledge gained from observation, evidence, and logic.

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What is Verification?

Arguments must be supported with tangible evidence.

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What is Falsifiability?

Hypotheses must be testable and capable of being disproven.

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What does Tentativeness refer to in science?

Scientific knowledge is always subject to change and revision.

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What is Normative Knowledge?

Value-based statements about what ‘should’ be.

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What is Nonnormative Knowledge?

Descriptive/causal statements about ‘what is’ or ‘why/how.’

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What is Transmissible Knowledge?

Methods must be clear so findings can be replicated.

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What is Cumulative Knowledge?

New studies build on prior research.

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What is Generalization?

Explanations that apply to many cases, not just one.

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What is Causality?

Identifying cause-and-effect relationships.

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What is Parsimony?

Explaining phenomena as simply as possible.

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What is a Research Question?

A guiding question that is significant, observable, political, and nonnormative.

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What is a Factual Question?

Describes what/when/how much.

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What is a Causal Question?

Asks why/how one factor affects another.

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What is a Peer-Reviewed Journal?

Scholarly source reviewed by experts before publication.

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What is a Literature Review?

Summarizes prior research to identify gaps, debates, and rival hypotheses.

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What is Consensus in research?

Area where scholars broadly agree.

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What is Debate in research?

Area where scholars disagree.

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What is a Gap in research?

An unstudied or underexplored area.

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What is a Theory?

A set of statements explaining why/how phenomena are related.

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What is a Hypothesis?

A testable statement about the relationship between variables.

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What is an Independent Variable?

The presumed cause.

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What is a Dependent Variable?

The presumed effect.

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What is an Antecedent Variable?

A factor that influences the independent variable.

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What is an Intervening Variable?

A factor that explains how the IV affects the DV.

What is a Directional Hypothesis?

Predicts the positive or negative direction of relationship.

What is a Tautology?

Circular reasoning where the hypothesis repeats the concept.

What is a Unit of Analysis?

The level at which data are collected (e.g., individuals, states).

What is Cross-Level Analysis?

Using one unit’s data to infer about another (risk of ecological fallacy).

What are Concepts in research?

Abstract ideas in research (e.g., democracy, participation).

What is Operationalization?

Turning abstract concepts into measurable indicators.

What is Reliability?

Consistency of measurement across time or methods.

What is the Test-Retest Method?

Repeating test after time to check reliability.

What is the Alternative-Form Method?

Using different measures of the same concept.

What is the Split-Halves Method?

Dividing one measure into two and comparing.

What is Validity?

Accuracy of measurement.

What is Face Validity?

Measurement looks like it measures what it should.

What is Content Validity?

Captures all aspects of the concept.

What is Construct Validity?

Matches theoretical expectations.

What is Convergent Validity?

Correlates with related concepts.

What is Discriminant Validity?

Not correlated with unrelated concepts.

What is Nominal Measurement?

Categories without order (party ID).

What is Ordinal Measurement?

Rank order without equal spacing (ideology scale).

What is Interval Measurement?

Equal spacing, no true zero (temperature, ideology scale).

What is Ratio Measurement?

Equal spacing, true zero (income, age).

What is a Population in research?

Entire group being studied.

What is a Sample?

Subset of the population.

What is an Element?

A single unit in a population.

What is a Sampling Frame?

List from which a sample is drawn.

What is Sampling Bias?

Systematic error when frame is incomplete/skewed.

What is a Probability Sample?

Each element has a known chance of selection.

What is a Simple Random Sample?

Every element has equal chance of being chosen.

What is a Systematic Sample?

Elements selected at regular intervals from a list.

What is a Stratified Sample?

Population divided into groups; random samples from each.

What is a Cluster Sample?

Population divided into clusters; clusters sampled.

What is a Nonprobability Sample?

Each element has unknown chance of selection.

What is a Quota Sample?

Elements sampled in proportion to their population representation.

What is a Purposive Sample?

Chosen intentionally for specific characteristics.

What is a Snowball Sample?

Respondents recruit others for the sample.

What is Sampling Error?

Difference between sample estimate and population value.

What is Covariation?

X and Y change together.

What is Time Order?

X must occur before Y.

What is Elimination of Alternatives?

Rule out confounders; no spurious causes.

What is a Spurious Relationship?

Apparent correlation caused by a third factor.

What is a Randomized Experiment?

Subjects randomly assigned to treatment/control.

What is Internal Validity?

Confidence that IV caused DV.

What is External Validity?

Extent results generalize beyond study.

What are Threats to Validity?

History, maturation, selection bias, mortality, demand characteristics.

What is a Quasi-Experiment?

Has treatment/control but no random assignment.

What is a Natural Experiment?

Nature assigns experimental/control conditions.

What is Intervention Analysis?

Comparing DV before and after IV is introduced.

What is an Observational Study?

Case studies or surveys without manipulation.

What is Cross-Sectional Design?

Snapshot at one time.

What is Longitudinal/Time-Series Design?

Measures across multiple times (trends, cohorts).

What is Regression Analysis?

Statistical test of strength/direction of relationships.

What is a Coefficient?

Indicates size and direction of effect.

What is a P-value?

Probability result is due to chance; <0.05 = significant.

What is Hazard Ratio (HR)?

Measure of risk in event history analysis; HR>1 = shorter peace, HR<1 = longer peace.

What is the Fortna (2004) study about?

Study on peacekeeping effectiveness (peacekeeping prolongs peace).

What is the Karp & Brockington (2005) study about?

Study of voter turnout misreporting; tested social desirability bias.

What is the Dolan & Ford (1997) study about?

Study on change and continuity among women state legislators.

scopes midterm Flashcards

(81 cards)