Sociological Research Methods

1. Sociological Research Methods

2. Issues of Interest • What do sociologists research? • Structures and functions of various features in society • Rates of behavior • Stability and change

3. Issues of Interest • Goals of Sociological research: • Describe • Predict • Explain • “A social scientist’s work is never done.”

4. Correlation vs. Causation • Sociologists want to uncover the causal connections between events • Study cause/effect by examining relationships between variables • Independent Variable: variable that causes a change in another variable • Dependent Variable: variable that is changed by the independent variable

5. Correlation vs Causation • Example: • In a study of teenage drug use, sociologists want to know what factors impact drug use. First they see if drug use is lower among students who are on the honor roll. • What is the IV? • What is the DV?

6. Correlation vs Causation • Student Response: • Think of your own sociological study: What is the independent variable? The dependent variable?

7. Causation vs Correlation • 1st step in cause/effect is to see if there is a correlation • Correlation: when a change in one variable is regularly associated with a change in another • Correlations may or may not be causal! • Positive Correlation: both variables change in the same direction • Negative Correlation: variables change in opposite directions

8. Correlation vs Causation • Student Response: • Think of an example of a positive correlation • Think of an example of a negative correlation

9. Correlation vs Causation • WARNING: Correlation does NOT imply causation!!

10. Correlation vs Causation • For something to cause something else 3 things must be present: • Correlation • Time order • Ruling out alternative explanations

11. The Research Process • Step 1: • Define the problem • Step 2: • Review the literature • Step 3: • Form a hypothesis

12. The Research Process • Step 4: • Choose a research design • Step 5: • Collect the data • Step 6: • Analyze the data • Step 7: • Present the Conclusions

13. Research Methods: Types of Research • Quantitative: • Focuses on data that can be measured numerically • Qualitative: • Focuses on interpretive descriptions & direct observations

14. Research Methods • Survey Research: • An interview, questionnaire or survey administered to a large group of people • Strengths: collect info from large # of people in short amount of time • Weaknesses: misinterpretation, lying, bias

15. Research Methods • Experimental Research: • Tests the way in which an independent variable affects a dependent variable in a controlled setting • Strengths: can control IV’s • Weaknesses: may not always be applicable

16. Research Methods • Observational Research: • A direct observation of subjects’ reactions • Detached: subjects not aware • Participant Observation: researcher directly involved • Strengths: observe behavior in natural setting • Weaknesses: Detached – miss details; Participant – influence behavior

17. Research Methods • Analysis of Existing Sources: • Historical Method: toys, clothes, diaries • Content Analysis: count # of times word, symbol, etc appears in a context • Strengths: easy to use and inexpensive • Weaknesses: may not provide enough info

18. Research Methods • Case Study Research: • Intensive analysis of a person, group, event or problem • May employ other methods to one focus • Strengths: provides in-depth view • Weaknesses: may lack generalizability

19. Research Ethics Guidelines: • Do no harm • Informed Consent • Voluntary Participation (public place exception) • Report all information accurately • No conflict of interest or dual relationships with subjects