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Social Research Methods

Social Research Methods. Social Research. Goal : Test common sense & peoples assumptions then replace with fact & evidence and make…………. Generalizations!!. Definition : statement about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things in that group.

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Social Research Methods

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  1. Social Research Methods

  2. Social Research Goal: Test common sense & peoples assumptions then replace with fact & evidence and make………… Generalizations!! Definition: statement about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things in that group.

  3. Social Research Where to we do research? • The whole world is a sociologists lab!

  4. Two Types : Quantitative: research that relies on numerical data VS. Qualitative: research which uses observation and relies upon descriptive data

  5. Methods: • Experiment: research that takes place in a lab setting (limited use in social research) • Field Research: research that takes place in a natural (non-lab) setting (primarily used in social research) VS

  6. Methods: • Survey: research method in which people respond to questions (most common method used in research) • Questionnaire: asking a sample population to respond to a to a series of closed-ended questions • Interview: asking of open-ended questions in order to gain required information Two Types: Quantitative Qualitative

  7. Methods: • Secondary/Historical Analysis: reading and analyzing • another persons data and r research on a topic • Case Study: in depth examination of a single group, • problem, or community • Longitudinal Study: type of case study that is conducted over a period of time. • Cross-sectional Study: focus on data collected at a specific period of time.

  8. Methods: • Natural Observation: research based on observation of people in any given environment(place) • Participant Observation: research in which the researcher becomes involved with the group being studied

  9. Theoretical Perspectives: Topic of Study: School Violence

  10. The Social Research Method Step 1: Choose a Topic……AND……Ask a Question Example: Topic  Sport and School Behavior and Grades Question  What is the impact does playing a high school sport have on the behavior of student athletes in class?

  11. The Social Research Method • Step 2: • Literature Review • What does research that has already been done say about this topic? • Example: • I would read and review: • American Sociological Association Journal Articles about Sports & School • Books by authors who studied this topic previously • Interviews from athletes (high school and college) • Newspaper Articles about Sports and School

  12. The Social Research Method • Step 3: • State your Hypothesis • What do I think will be my answer? • Hypothesis= proposed explanation for a phenomenon. Example: Hypothesis  Students who play a high school sport will have better behavior in school versus those students who do not play a high school sport.

  13. The Social Research Method Step 4: Develop your Research Plan Choose your methods to collect data (3) Create a timeline for your research Choose your research population Example: Methods  Survey, Interview, Secondary Analysis (data) Timeline  I will conduct my research over a period of 2 weeks Population  I will research 50 student-athletes and 50 non-athletes grades 9-12 at SHS

  14. The Social Research Method • Step 5: • Collect your Data • Go out and perform your research! • Variables: • Independent Variable= varied or manipulated by the researcher; the ‘cause’. • Dependent Variable= response that is measured; the ‘effect’. • Variable  Playing a sport(Independent) will yield either good or bad behavior(Dependent)

  15. The Social Research Method • Step 6: • Analyze your Data • Analyze your data and look for the following: • Patterns and Relationships • Correlations and Causations Example: Patterns  A majority/few student athletes have good behavior in class. Relationship  Being a student-athlete causes better behavior in class (Direct Relationship) Correlation  I found a positive correlation between student- athletes and positive behavior

  16. The Social Research Method • Step 7: • State your Conclusions • What generalizations can be drawn from the results of your research? • Was your hypothesis proven correct or incorrect? Example: Hypothesis  My hypothesis was proven to be correct Generalization  Students who play high school sports tend to behave better in class.

  17. Examining Results • Causation= an outcome has been directly caused by a variable or factor. • Sociologists examine cause and effect by looking at the variables, or characteristics, involved.

  18. Examining Results • Correlation= a change in one variable regularly associates with a change in another variable.

  19. Caveat: When conducting research, either in a lab setting or in society, outcomes do not always match the intended results.

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