Sociologists Doing Sociologists Doing ResearchResearch

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Research MethodsResearch Methods

Ch. 2.1Ch. 2.1

Doing Research in the Social Doing Research in the Social SciencesSciences

A.A. Sociologists gain knowledge by Sociologists gain knowledge by doing research.doing research.

B.B. Ask “why” and “how” questions Ask “why” and “how” questions then form hypothesesthen form hypotheses

C.C. Use quantitative or qualitative Use quantitative or qualitative methods:methods:

1.1. quantitative-quantitative- using numerical data using numerical data

2.2. qualitative-qualitative- surveys and precollected surveys and precollected datadata

SurveySurvey

A.A. People responding to questionsPeople responding to questions

B.B. Most widely used method in Most widely used method in sociologysociology

C.C. Ideal for studying large #s of Ideal for studying large #s of peoplepeople

D.D. Population-Population- a group of people a group of people w/certain specified characteristics w/certain specified characteristics that researchers want to study.that researchers want to study.

PopulationPopulation

1.1. Most populations are too large; use Most populations are too large; use a a sample-sample- group of people that group of people that represent a larger population.represent a larger population.

2.2. Must be a Must be a representative sample-representative sample- a a sample that accurately reflects the sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population as characteristics of the population as a whole.a whole.

SurveySurvey

E.E. Questionnaire-Questionnaire- a written set of a written set of questions to be answered by a questions to be answered by a research participant.research participant.

F.F. Interview-Interview- a trained researchers a trained researchers asks Q and records Aasks Q and records A

1.1. close-ended: limited set of responses close-ended: limited set of responses

2.2. Open-ended: person answers as Open-ended: person answers as pleasespleases

Secondary AnalysisSecondary Analysis

A.A. Using Using precollected infoprecollected info. For data . For data collection and research purposescollection and research purposes

B. Gov’t reports, company records, B. Gov’t reports, company records, voting lists…voting lists…

Field ResearchField Research

A.A. Takes place in a natural setting.Takes place in a natural setting.

B.B. Most commonly used is a Most commonly used is a case case study-study- intensive study of a single intensive study of a single group, incident or communitygroup, incident or community

1. Findings can be generalized to similar 1. Findings can be generalized to similar situations.situations.

Basic SkillsBasic Skills

Sociologists need to know how to Sociologists need to know how to work with statistics, evaluate work with statistics, evaluate Internet resources, and read tables Internet resources, and read tables and graphsand graphsModes (# occurs most often), means Modes (# occurs most often), means

(avg) and medians (middle #)(avg) and medians (middle #)Allow to see quick relationships and Allow to see quick relationships and

trends in datatrends in dataBe sure they are credible, unbiased Be sure they are credible, unbiased

and verifiableand verifiable

Nature of CausationNature of Causation

Ch. 2.2Ch. 2.2

Nature of CausationNature of Causation1. The belief that events occur in 1. The belief that events occur in

predictable ways and that one event predictable ways and that one event leads to another.leads to another.

2. Social scientist look for the factors 2. Social scientist look for the factors that cause social events to happen.that cause social events to happen.

3. 3. Multiple causation-Multiple causation- belief that an belief that an event occurs as a result of several event occurs as a result of several factors working in combination.factors working in combination.

VariablesVariables

Variable is a characteristic that is Variable is a characteristic that is subject to change subject to change quantitative, qualitative, independent quantitative, qualitative, independent

(causes the change to happen) or (causes the change to happen) or dependent (reflects the change)dependent (reflects the change)

CorrelationsCorrelations

A measure of how things are related to A measure of how things are related to one anotherone another

*DOES NOT PROVE CAUSATION*DOES NOT PROVE CAUSATION1)positive-independent & dependent 1)positive-independent & dependent

change in the same direction (both up change in the same direction (both up or down)or down)

2)negative-one goes up, one goes down2)negative-one goes up, one goes downSpurious correlation-a third variable is Spurious correlation-a third variable is

the causethe cause

Steps in ResearchSteps in Research

Ch. 2.3Ch. 2.3

Steps in ResearchSteps in Research

1.1. IdentifyIdentify the problem- the problem- choose an object or topic choose an object or topic to study.to study.

2.2. ReviewReview the literature- the literature- check all previous check all previous research on topic.research on topic.

3.3. Formulate Formulate hypotheses-hypotheses- a a testable statementtestable statement

Continue stepsContinue steps

4.4. Develop a Develop a research design-research design- the procedures that will be the procedures that will be followed for collecting and followed for collecting and analyzing the data.analyzing the data.

5. 5. Collect data-Collect data- asking asking questions, observation and questions, observation and analyzing existing materials.analyzing existing materials.

Continue StepsContinue Steps

6.6. Analyze the data- does it Analyze the data- does it support the hypothesis?support the hypothesis?

7.7. State findings and State findings and conclusions- write the conclusions- write the reportreport

EthicsEthics

Rules of acceptable conduct of Rules of acceptable conduct of researchresearch

A. Show objectivityA. Show objectivity

B. Report findings truthfullyB. Report findings truthfully

C. Protect the rights, privacy, C. Protect the rights, privacy, integrity, dignity and freedom of integrity, dignity and freedom of the subjects.the subjects.