data that you get directly from systematic observation and experience. NOT something that you get from hearsay
Inconvenient facts
(Max Weber) facts that you do not want to hear. i.e. that males earn more than females
Qualitative
does not incorporate numbers much. field research
quantitative
number driven, measurements, percentages, etc
variables
concepts that vary in terms of attributes, i.e. sex (male or female). NAME = sex, ATTRIBUTES = male or female
independent variable
the cause. expected to have a causal relationship with a dependent variable. influences in some way the dependent variable. MUST precede the dependent variable in time.
dependent variable
the effect. is influenced by the independent variable. MUST come after the independent variable
research hypothesis
a statement where you explicitly express the impact that you expect the independent variable to have on the dependent variable
probabilistic
likely but not certain
theory
well thought out explanation for why something happens
3 criteria for a causal relationship to exist
the cause must precede the effect in time. correlation (relationship must exist). No spuriousness (observed correlation cannot be explained away by a third variable).