Unveiling Sociological Research Methods and Approaches
Dive into the exploration of sociological research methods, from the utilization of the scientific method to the distinctions between quantitative and qualitative research. Discover the significance of inductive and deductive reasoning, as well as the importance of questioning common sense beliefs. Explore how sociologists frame research questions, review existing knowledge, and analyze data to gain insights into social phenomena.
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 2 Discovering Sociological Research
Sociology and Common Sense Sociologists use the scientific method to gather data and to create and test theories. A process of gathering empirical (scientific and specific) data, creating theories, and rigorously testing theories. Hypotheses: ideas about the world, derived from theories, which can be disproved when tested against observations. Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 2
Scientific Method 1. Frame your research question Develop hypothesis Statement of expectations; predict relationship between variables (factors that change) 2. Review existing knowledge 3. Choose methods 4. Weigh ethical implications 5. Collect and analyze data 6. Interpret Results 7. Report findings
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Deductive reasoning: the process of taking an existing theory and logically deducing that if the theory is accurate, we should discover other patterns of behavior consistent with it. Inductive reasoning: the process of generalizing to an entire category of phenomena from a particular set of observations. Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 4
Quantitative Research Quantitative research: gathers data that can be quantified Objective, concreate, measured, statistical Offers insight into patterns of social behavior and social attitudes Large-scale surveys Large sample sizes Example: Percentage of U.S. parents who use corporal punishment (spanking) Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 5
Qualitative Research Qualitative research: uses data that cannot be quantified Subjective, interpretive, descriptive In-depth knowledge of social life, institutions, and processes Focus groups, participant and non-participant observation, interviews, and archival research Small sample sizes Example: why parents in a particular demographic group are more or less likely to use spanking as a disciplinary method Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 6
Common Sense? Widely held beliefs or perceptions that people repeat are often inaccurate and unsupported by sociological research. Example: Drug use among blacks and whites Example: Causes of homelessness Example: Education as an equalizer Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 7
Research and the Scientific Method Scientific theories: answer questions about how and why scientific observations are as they are A good theory displays: Logical consistency Falsifiability Validity Reliability Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 8
Research and the Scientific Method Concepts: ideas that describe a number of things that have something in common Operational definition: a definition of a concept in such a way that we can observe and measure it Variable: a concept or its empirical measure that can take on two or more possible values Qualitative: non-numerical (race, sex, attitude) Quantitative: numerical (income and age) Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 9
Testing Theories and Hypotheses Researchers create and test hypotheses to explain positive or negative correlations. Positive correlation: a relationship showing that as one variable rises or falls, the other does as well. Example: Obesity rates increase as poverty rates increase. Negative correlation: One variable increases as the other decreases. Example: Marriage rates decrease as male unemployment increases. Good theories are made so they are possible to prove wrong. Karl Popper s principle of falsification, or falsifiability: to be scientific, a theory must lead to testable hypotheses that can be disproved if they are wrong. Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 10
Validity and Reliability Validity: concepts and measurement accurately represent what they claim to represent. Our observations adequately reflect the real world. Example: crime, police reports, and the National Crime Victims Survey Reliability: the extent to which the findings are consistent with different studies of the same phenomenon or with the same study over time. Bias: a characteristic of results that systematically misrepresent the full dimensions of what is being studied. Example: counting the homeless population; truthfulness of respondents Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 11
Objectivity in Scientific Research Objectivity: ability to represent the object of study accurately Value-neutrality:researcher s personal beliefs do not interfere Validity: actually accurately measuring what you think you are measuring Replication: repetition of a previous study using different sample or population to verify or refute results Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 12
Doing Sociological Research Research methods: specific techniques for systematically gathering data Survey Research Fieldwork Experimentation Usage of existing data Participatory Research Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 13
Survey Research Survey: uses a survey tool with a group of people to determine characteristics, opinions, and behaviors Questionnaire or interviews Closed-ended questions Open-ended questions Telephone, email, in person Questions written carefully to avoid bias Example: United States Census Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 14
Sampling Population: the whole group of people to be studied/interested in Sample: relatively small number of people chosen to represent a population Larger is usually better Random sampling: everyone in the population of interest has an equal chance of being chosen for the study Stratified sampling: a sample divided into a series of subgroups subject to random sampling Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 15
Fieldwork Fieldwork: uses in-depth, often extended study to describe and analyze a group or community Direct observation and interaction Participant observation Detached observation In-depth interviews: detailed conversations designed to obtain information about a person and their activities. Avoid leading questions: those that elicit particular responses. Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 16
Experimentation Experiments: research techniques for investigating cause and effect under controlled conditions. Independent/experimental variable: variable changed intentionally Dependent variable: change as a result of alterations to independent variable Experimental group: subjects exposed to IV Control group: subjects not exposed to IV Measure difference between groups Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 17
Working With Existing Data Analysis of existing quantitative, statistical data collected by an organization or agency Document analysis of written materials or cultural products Newspapers, court records, films, reports, images, pamphlets, etc. Analysis of historical documents Content analysis of documented communication Art, music, laws, tweets, and newspaper articles Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 18
Participatory Research Participatory research: supports an organization or community trying to improve its situation when it lacks the necessary economic or political power to do so by itself Researcher fully participates by training the members to conduct research on their own while working with them to enhance their power Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 19
Doing Sociology: A Students Guide To Research Frame your research question precisely and carefully. Review existing knowledge. Select the appropriate method. Which of the research methods described will give the best results for the project? Which is most feasible for your research circumstances, experience, and budget? Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 20
Doing Sociology: A Students Guide To Research Weigh the ethical implications. Absence of harm, anonymity, confidentiality, written consent Collect and analyze data according to research method. Share the results. Publish results in an academic journal, book, newspaper, documentary, or share at a conference. Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 21
Sociology and You: Why Learn to Do Sociological Research? Students of sociology have skills to: critically analyze media claims for validity and reliability ascertain whether or not scientific research was conducted properly begin own data collection apply quantitative skills in job market survey development, market research, brand health tracking, and financial quantitative modeling and analysis. Chambliss, Discover Sociology 3e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. 22
