C. Research Methods

1. C. Research Methods How do you know? Concepts Steps Methods Ethics

2. Methodological concepts • Empirical: evidence that is obtained through actual observation.

3. Methodological concepts • Variable: a concept whose value changes; a factor in relation to other factors. • Independent variable: a variable that causally affects another. • Dependent variable: a variable causally influenced by another.

4. Methodological concepts • Correlation: a regular relationship (often statistical) between two variables. • Positive: high-high, low-low • Example: education and income • Negative: high-low, low-high • Example: employment and criminal behavior

5. Methodological concepts • Hypothesis: a guess or prediction about a given state of affairs, put forward as a basis for empirical testing.

6. Sociological research questions • What? – factual • Everywhere? – comparative • At all times? – developmental • Why? – theoretical

7. Steps of the scientific method • Define a researchable problem. • Review the existing evidence (“the literature”). • Refine the question (make it precise; may be hypothesis). • Create a research design. • Make your observations. • Analyze and interpret the results. • Report your findings.

8. Steps of the scientific method • Define a researchable problem. • Review the existing evidence (“the literature”). • Refine the question (make it precise). • Create a research design. • Make your observations. • Analyze and interpret the results. • Report your findings.

9. Sociological research methods • Ethnography • Participant observation • Fieldwork • Surveys • Populations • Representative, random sampling

10. Sociological research methods • Experiments • Controls • Not necessarily “natural” • Comparative and historical • Comparative questions • Historical data

11. Ethics • Don’t harm subjects • Confidentiality if desired • no social or psychological damage • Full disclosure of: • Methods • Findings