Sociological Research Methods

There are five different research methods: Experiments Surveys Secondary Analysis of existing data Field Research Feminist Research

Experiments

An experiment is a carefully designed situation in which the researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects’ attitudes or behaviour. They’re designed to simulate real-life under controlled

circumstances.

Experiments

There are 3 different types of experiments:

1) Laboratory experiment – subjects are studied in a closed setting (eg. an animal’s cage, an enclosed room)

2) Natural experiment – real-life occurrences that create a “living laboratory” (eg. floods, hurricanes)

3) Field experiment – a staged event in a natural setting

Experiments

There are strengths / advantages attributed to experiments:

1) The researcher has control over the experiment

- they are an excellent way to test cause-and-effect relationships

2) Experiments do not take up a lot of time or money

3) Experiments are easily replicated

Experiments

There are also weaknesses attributed to experiments:

1) They are artificial

- participants know they are being monitored and may not react realistically-this is known as the problem of reactivity

2) They frequently rely on volunteers

- results may not be representative3) They are limited in scope

Surveys

In a survey, a number of respondents are asked identical questions through a systematic questionnaire or interview.

Respondents are persons who provide data for analysis through interviews or questionnaires.

Surveys are an important research method because they make it possible to study things that are not directly observable (eg. people’s attitudes, beliefs, etc.), and to describe a population too large to observe directly.

Surveys

There are three different types of survey:

1) Self-administered questionnaire2) Personal interview3) Telephone survey

Surveys

A questionnaire is a research instrument containing a series of items (or questions) to which subjects respond.

Surveys

There are strengths / advantages attributed to questionnaires:

1) They are relatively simple and inexpensive to administer

2) They allow respondents to remain anonymous

3) Describe large groups of people without interviewing each person

Surveys

Disadvantage attributed to questionnaires:

They have a very low response rate Mailed surveys sometimes have a response rate as low as

10%, and a 50% response rate is considered by some to be minimally adequate

Surveys

An interview is a data collection encounter in which an interviewer asks the respondent questions and records the answers.

The advantages of interviews include: They are more effective in dealing with complicated issues

(because they give an opportunity for face-to-face contact) The research can get new perspectives through open-ended

questions

Surveys

The advantages of interviews include: They are more effective in dealing with complicated issues

(because they give an opportunity for face-to-face contact) The research can get new perspectives through open-ended

questions

The disadvantage? Interviews are very costly and time-consuming

Surveys

Telephone interviews have been increasingly popular lately. It is believed that this is because:

They save time and money (compared to face-to-face) Respondents tend to be more honest They ensure greater control over data collection and interviewer

safety They have higher response rates than mail-out questionnaires

Surveys

Sampling is an important aspect of surveying.

The population consists of those persons about whom we want to be able to draw conclusions(eg. the total CPA students population = 1087)

Surveys

A sample is the group of people who are selected from the population to be studied. (eg. 100 CPA athletes)

A representative sample is a selection from a larger population that has the essential characteristics of the total population. (eg. 100 CPA athletes – 50 guys, 50 girls)

Surveys

A random sample is chosen by chance: every member of an entire population being studied has the same chance of being selected. (eg. 100 CPA students chosen at random)

Surveys

The advantages of surveys include: They are useful in describing a large population without

interviewing each person Large samples are possible

The disadvantages? Standardized questions tend to “box” answers Surveys bring up questions of validity

Feminist Research Methods

Feminist research seeks to remove male biases from sociological research:

Sexist language / concepts Overgeneralizations Other “androcentric” tendencies, etc.

Feminist Research Methods

Feminist research seeks to:

Understand women’s experiences and address women’s live on their own terms

It should be woman-centred Provide explanations of women’s lives that are useful /

helpful to women Challenge the idea that researchers should be “value-free”

Ethical Research

Read p. 61-62 and answer the following questions:

1) What is required in order for sociological research to be considered “ethical”?

2) What is “informed consent”?

3) When is anonymity a particularly important aspect of sociological research?