Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 2
Introduction
Theory
An explanation about how and why something
is as it is
Introduction
Concepts
Words or signs that refer to phenomena
that share common characteristics
For example, concepts which may interest
sociologists are social and economic class and
self-esteem.
Introduction
Conceptualization
The process of clarifying what we mean by
a concept
Example
High-crime late adolescent years
Begins at about 17 years of age
Birth cohort
People born in a given calendar year
Introduction
Operational definition
Concise definition of the concept
Examples
What is “child abuse”?
Could be only substantiated cases with child
protective services.
What is a “problem drinker”?
Could be one who drinks ___ drinks in ___ amount
of time.
Introduction
Variable
A characteristic that can vary from one unit of
analysis to another or for one unit of analysis
over time
A concept that varies
Introduction
Hypothesis
A testable statement about how two or more
variables are expected to relate to one another
A hypothesis is simply a formal version of a
hunch or speculation that usually is based on
a theory.
Introduction
Dependent variable
A variable that is affected or influenced by
another variable
What you are trying to predict or explain.
Introduction
Independent variable
A variable that affects or influences another
variable
Quiz - Question 1
Assume the following statement:
In our research, we are looking at how
gender (male or female) affects the amount of
money individuals leave for tips at
restaurants.
What is the independent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
Quiz - Question 2
In our research, we are looking at how
gender (male or female) affects the amount of
money individuals leave for tips at
restaurants.
What are the independent variable
categories?
Quiz – Question 3
In our research, we are looking at how
gender (male or female) affects the amount of
money individuals leave for tips at
restaurants.
What is a possible hypothesis that could be
generated?
Introduction
Social Science and Causality
A word of caution
Just because two variables are associated with
each other does not necessarily mean that the
change in one variable will create a change in the
other variable
Establishing causality is difficult
Typical data gathering techniques make it difficult to
determine “cause” and “effect”
Introduction
Antecedent variable
A variable that comes before both the
independent variable and dependent variable
May explain the association between the
independent variables and the dependent
variable
Introduction
Causality Example
Firefighters will tell you of the association between the
number of firefighters at a fire and the damage done at the
fire, that the more firefighters at a fire, the more damage
occurs.
What is the independent variable?