Homework: Your WorldviewWhat is your ontology and epistemology?*Ontology: How do you see the world? Is there Social

order or radical change?  Is reality something you experience (separate from you) or something you help to create?

Epistemology: Can we be objective in our study of the world? Or does our subjectivity persist and interfere?

Theory: What is your theory of change? How does change occur in the world? Is it controlled or uncontrolled?

*Some info from Burrell, G., & Morgan, G. Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis, Heinemann, 1979, 1-37

Homework Revisited

Functionalism: Social Order + ObjectivityInterpretivism: Social Order + SubjectivityRadical Structuralism: Constant change +

ObjectivityRadical Humanism: Constant change +

Subjectivity

Ontology: Social Order vs. Radical/constant change

Epistemology: Objective vs. Subjective

Fall 2015Research Methods

Class 3

The Research Process & Types of Research

The Research Process1. Observation (exploration+question)2. Rationalization (design+method)3. Validation (data + analysis)

1

3

2

Observation: ExplorationExperience

Curiousity, life experiences, interests, choosing a topic

Literature ReviewFind articles about topics of interest – focus on

specific aspect“What has already been written on my topic?”

Research QuestionBegin to formulate a research question“What do I want to know?”

Rationalization: Research DesignDefine concepts/variables: operationalization

What concepts are part of my topic?How do I define these concepts so they can be measured?

Research QuestionRefine question with operational definitions

Choose a method + sampleHow do you collect data? Who are you asking?Methods: Surveys, interviews, focus groups, ethnography,

case study, participatory action research, secondary data analysis, (experiments)

Research Proposal*Now you know what you want to do, write it up, get approved

($)

Validation: Data & AnalysisCollect data

Quantitative or Qualitative? Mixed Methods?

Data AnalysisDepends on types of data collected

Research Report*Conclusion and findings

The Research Process1. Observation (exploration+question)2. Rationalization (design+method)3. Validation (data + analysis)

1

3

2

Research Type

Types of Research

Descriptive Making careful observations and detailed documentation of a

phenomenon What, Where, When What amount of formerly incarcerated individuals have trouble finding a

job? Exploratory

Conducted in new areas of inquiry to scope out the magnitude or extent of a particular problem or to generate some initial ideas

Do formerly incarcerated individuals face barriers to employment? Explanatory

Most academic research is explanatory – tries to ‘connect the dots’ Why do formerly incarcerated individuals have trouble finding a job? How are formerly incarcerated individuals treated by employers?

Evaluative Does Program X helped formerly incarcerated individuals find and keep

a job?

Discuss1. Criminal justice system: Sentencing, plea

bargaining2. Prison: Reform, Recidivism, Mass

incarceration, overcrowding3. Economic inequality4. NYPD/Law Enforcement: Hiring

process, Racial bias5. Drugs: Abuse, Legalization, Decriminalization6. Immigration/Human trafficking7. Gentrification8. Social/Political Movements

1. Criminal justice system

2. Prison3. Economic inequality4. NYPD/Law Enforcement

1. Drugs2. Immigration/Human trafficking3. Gentrification4. Social/Political Movements

Reading…Chapter 2: Thinking Like a Researcher (p. 9-15)

In Social Science Research- Principles Methods and Practices

Sections 2.1-2.2: Basic Concepts & Generating Good Research Questions (p. 23-38)In Research Methods in Psychology

Pay attention to:Unit of AnalysisConceptVariableIndependent vs. dependent variableOperational definitionCorrelation vs. Causation

Dialectics of Social Research• There are many ways and methods to

conduct social research • Idiographic and Nomothetic Explanation• How do we explain a situation, group of

people?• Inductive and Deductive Theory• What is your reasoning method?

• Quantitative and Qualitative Data• What type of data are you collecting?

• Pure and Applied Research• What is the type and purpose of the research

you are conducting?