Sociological Research

2. 2 Sociological Research

3. Chapter Outline • What is the Scientific Method? • Major Research Designs • Ethics of Research • Technology and Sociological Research • Social Policy and Sociological Research: Studying Human Sexuality

4. What is the Scientific Method? • Scientific Method • The scientific method is a systematic, organized series of steps that ensures maximum objectivity and consistency in researching a problem.

5. What is the Scientific Method? • Defining the Problem • State as clearly as possible what you hope to investigate. • Operational Definition: An explanation of an abstract concept that is specific enough to measure.

6. What is the Scientific Method? • Reviewing the Literature • Literature is the relevant scholarly studies and information that pertains to the subject you’re interested in researching. • Reviewing the literature helps refine the problem under study, clarify possible techniques to be used in collecting data, and eliminate or reduce avoidable mistakes.

7. What is the Scientific Method? • Formulating the Hypothesis • A hypothesis is a speculative statement about the relationship between two or more factors known as variables. • A variable is a measurable trait or characteristic that is subject to change under different conditions.

8. What is the Scientific Method? • Formulating the Hypothesis • Types of Variables: • --An independent variable is the variable that is hypothesized to cause or influence another. • --A dependent variable is the variable whose action depends on the influence of the independent variable.

9. What is the Scientific Method? • Formulating the Hypothesis • Correlations exist when a change in one variable coincides with a change in another. • Correlations indicate that causality may be present.

10. What is the Scientific Method? Figure 2.2: Causal Logic

11. What is the Scientific Method? • Collecting and Analyzing Data • Selecting the Sample • --A Sample is a selection from a larger population that is statistically representative of that population. • --In a Random Sample, every member of an entire population being studied has the same chance of being selected.

12. What is the Scientific Method? • Collecting and Analyzing Data • Ensuring Validity and Reliability • --Validity: The degree to which a measure truly reflects the phenomenon being studied. • --Reliability: The extent to which a measure provides consistent results.

13. What is the Scientific Method? • Developing the Conclusion • Supporting the Hypothesis • --Sociological studies do not always generate data that support the original hypothesis. • Controlling for Other Factors --Control variables are factors that are held constant to test the impact of the independent variable

14. What is the Scientific Method? Figure 2.1: The Scientific Method

15. Major Research Designs • Surveys • A study generally in the form of an interview or questionnaire. • Provides sociologists with information about how people act or think.

16. Major Research Designs • Surveys • Interviews • --High response rate. • --Can probe beyond questionnaire. • Questionnaires • --Inexpensive. • --Good for large samples.

17. Major Research Designs • Observations • Collecting information through direct participation and/or observation of a group. • Most common form of quantitative research, which collects and reports data primarily in numerical form.

18. Major Research Designs • Observations • Participant Observation: When the researcher “joins” a group for a period of time to get a sense of how it operates.

19. Major Research Designs • Experiments • The artificially-created situation that allows the researcher to manipulate variables. • Experiments involve two types of groups: • --Experimental Group: Exposed to independent variable • --Control Group: Not exposed to independent variable.

20. Major Research Designs • Use of Existing Sources • Secondary Analysis: Research techniques making use of publicly accessible information and data. • Content Analysis: The systematic coding and objective recording of data, guided by some rationale.

21. Major Research Designs Table 2-1: Existing Sources Used in Sociological Research

22. Ethics of Research • Principles • Maintain objectivity. • Respect the subject’s right to privacy. • Protect subjects from harm. • Preserve confidentiality. • Seek informed consent. • Acknowledge collaboration and assistance. • Disclose all sources of financial support.

23. Technology and Sociological Research • Computers • Have extended the range and capability to conduct research. • Allow large amounts of information to be stored and analyzed.

24. Social Policy and Sociological Research • Studying Human Sexuality • The Issue • --Sexuality is a difficult topic to research because of all the preconceptions, myths, and beliefs we bring to the subject. • --How does one carry out scientific research of such a controversial and personal topic?

25. Social Policy and Sociological Research • Studying Human Sexuality • The Setting • --There are few reliable national data on patterns of sexual behavior in the United States. • --This is partly due to the difficulty of researchers to obtain accurate information about a sensitive subject. • --Government funding for sexual studies is controversial.

26. Social Policy and Sociological Research • Studying Human Sexuality • Sociological Insights • --The government is the major source of funding for sociological research. • -- “Value neutrality” suggests that sociological researchers should remain autonomous and not bound to any one segment of society, including the government. • --Can sociologists remain impartial?

27. Social Policy and Sociological Research • Studying Human Sexuality • Policy Initiatives • --In 1987, the U.S. Senate blocked funding for a national survey of sexual behavior by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. • --The researchers had to acquire private funding to complete the NHSLS survey.

28. Social Policy and Sociological Research Figure 2.4: Percent of Television Shows that Contain Sexual Content(source: Kaiser Family Foundation 2001/02)

29. Social Policy and Sociological Research Figure 2.5: Views on Sex before Marriage