Social Science Research Methods

noun someone who conducts public opinion polls

• The pollster conducted a survey to gather data on public opinion.
• The pollster asked me a bunch of questions about politics.
• The pollster was grilling me about who I was going to vote for.
• The pollster was like a detective, trying to uncover the truth hidden in people's responses.

noun a matter that is not considered to be of primary importance

• The main focus of the meeting should not be diverted by discussing a side issue.
• Let's not get sidetracked by talking about that side issue during the presentation.
• Don't sweat the small stuff, that side issue is not worth our time.
• Addressing that side issue is like chasing a rabbit down a hole - it will lead us away from the main goal.

noun a detailed study or inspection, typically done to gather information or data

verb to examine or investigate something thoroughly

• The company conducted a survey to gather feedback from customers.
• I filled out a survey online to enter a prize draw.
• I ain't got time for these surveys, man.
• The artist's latest work can be seen as a survey of modern society.

noun the quality or state of being unanimous

• The board members reached a unanimous decision on the budget proposal.
• Everyone agreed on the movie choice, there was total unanimity.
• We were all on the same page, it was like a total group hug of unanimity.
• The colors of the sunset painted the sky with a beautiful unanimity.

noun a voting system used to elect a single winner from a field of more than two candidates

• Instant-runoff voting is a preferential voting system used to elect one candidate from a pool of multiple candidates.
• Have you heard about instant-runoff voting? It's a way to rank your choices in an election.
• IRV is a cool voting system where you can pick your favorite candidate without worrying about wasting your vote.
• Using instant-runoff voting is like having multiple chances to vote for your preferred candidate until one emerges as the winner.

noun a person who describes or analyzes language as it is commonly used, rather than prescribing how it should be used

• The linguist presented a descriptivist approach to analyzing language patterns.
• She's more of a descriptivist when it comes to grammar rules.
• I'm not really into all that descriptivist stuff, I prefer to keep it simple.
• In a world of prescriptivists, she stood out as a descriptivist, embracing language diversity.

adjective capable of being approached or spoken to

• The accostable gentleman greeted me with a polite smile.
• She's very accostable, you can approach her anytime.
• That guy is so accostable, he's always up for a chat.
• The novel's protagonist is an accostable character, always ready to engage in new adventures.