CHAPTER 15, Reading and writing social research

1. CHAPTER 15, Reading and writing social research

2. Chapter Outline • Reading Social Research • Using the Internet Wisely • Writing Social Research • The Ethics of Reading and Writing Social Research • Quick Quiz

3. Reading Social Research • Organizing a Review of the Literature • Determine keywords (a key concept or population) • Practice: Identify keywords if you were interested in criminal behavior among female college students. • Practice: Identify keywords if you were interested in cohabitation among gay and lesbian couples. • Conduct a search • Library of Congress, school library, online search engine • Snowball Search

4. Journals versus Books • Reading a Journal Article • Read the Abstract – A summary of a research article (states the purpose of the research, the methods used, and the major findings). • Skim the article, noting section headings and tables and graphs • Read the article in its entirety • Review the article

5. Reading a Book • Research Monograph – a book-length research report. • Read the preface or introduction • Read the book in its entirety

6. Evaluating Research Reports • Theoretical Orientations • Research Design • Measurement • Sampling • Experiments • Survey Questions • Field Research • Content Analysis • Analyzing Existing Statistics • Comparative and Historical Research • Evaluation Research • Data Analysis • Reporting

7. Using the Internet Wisely • Some Useful Websites • Searching the Web • Search Engine – a computer program designed to locate where specified terms appear on websites throughout the World Wide Web.

8. Evaluating the Quality of Internet Materials • Who/What is the author of the website? • Is the site advocating a particular point of view? • Does the website give accurate and complete references? • Are the data up-to-date? • Are the data official? • Is it a University research site? • Do the data seem consistent with data from other sites?

9. Citing Internet Materials • Elements of a Proper Citation • URL – web address (uniform/universal resources locator) • Data and time when site was accessed • Author and title, if available • Publishing information, if available • Location in print form

10. Writing Social Research • General Guidelines • Use proper grammar and spelling • Use a style guide (such as The Elements of Style) • Understand functions of scientific reporting

11. Some Basic Considerations • Audience • Form and Length of Report • Aim of Report

12. Organization of the Report • Purpose and Overview • Provide a brief statement of the purpose of the study and the main findings (in a journal article, this is the abstract).

13. Review of the Literature • Fit your research into the context of existing scientific knowledge. • Avoiding Plagiarism • Plagiarism – Presenting someone else’s words or thoughts as thought they were your own, constituting intellectual theft.

14. Study Design and Execution • Include the population, the sampling frame, the sampling method, the sample size, the data collection method, the completion rate, and the methods of data processing and analysis. • Analysis and Interpretation • The presentation, manipulation and interpretation of data should be integrated together • Summary and Conclusions • Review significant findings in the context of the larger project and existing scientific research, review shortcomings and make suggesting for future research

15. Guidelines for Reporting Analyses • Provide maximum data without being cluttered • For quantitative data, presenting data such that the reader can recompute them • Describe all aspects of quantitative analysis • Provide details • Integrate supporting materials • Draw explicit conclusions • Point out qualifications • Write clearly

16. Going Public

17. Quick Quiz

18. 1. In most journals, each article beings with a/n _____. • table of contents • index • summary • abstract

19. Answer: D. In most journals, each article beings with an abstract.

20. 2. Most original research is seen as a/n _____ of what has previously been learned about. • cause • replacement • extension

21. Answer: C. Most original research is seen as an extension of what has previously been learned about.

22. 3. Which of the following questions might you ask when evaluating data on websites? • Who is the author of the website? • Is the site advocating for a particular point of view? • Does the website give complete references? • all of the above • none of the above

23. ANSWER: D. You should ask all of the following questions when evaluating data on websites: • Who is the author of the website? • Is the site advocating for a particular point of view? • Does the website give complete references?

24. 4. Which of the following should be included in a research report? • purpose and overview • review of the literature • analysis and interpretation • all of the above • none of the above

25. ANSWER: D. All of the following should be included in a research report: • purpose and overview • review of the literature • analysis and interpretation