Agenda 03/21/2012 Research Methods Sponge: Continue working on Research Activity

1. Agenda 03/21/2012 Research Methods Sponge: Continue working on Research Activity 1) Sponge 2) Individual Research Activity 3) Debate 4) Test corrections end Friday 03/23/2012 5) Quiz on Friday SSSocFR2: Students will explain the research methodologies used in sociology. a. Identify the major research methods used in sociology. b. Explain how various methods are used to conduct research in sociology. d. Explain the importance and influence of ethics in guiding research and data collection in sociology.

2. Research Methods in Sociology • Empirical Research: use of experience, observation, and experimentation to collect data. Strives to be objective. • Collect empirical data through the scientific method. • Empirical Data: anything that can be experience through our senses.

3. Research in Sociology • Looks for cause and effect. • Examines variables (change in one variable causes change in another) • Independent Variable: Causes change • Dependent Variable: Is changed

4. Example • Does exposure to violent videos games affect teenage violence? • Independent Variable: Exposure to video games • Dependent Variable: teenage violence • Hypothesis: statement that predicts the relationship between two variables. • If teenagers are exposed to violent video games, their tendency to use violence will increase.

6. Quantitative Research • Study variables that can be measured in numbers. • You are using data to predict or make suggestions. • Examples: Age, income years married, crime rates.

7. Qualitative Research • Study conditions hard to measure with numbers. • You are describing information. • Examples: Manners, Self-image, how police make a decision to arrest someone

8. Observational Research: Case Studies(Qualitative) • Participant Observation: Researcher is a participant and observer. • Researcher may remain anonymous or reveal identity • Advantage: • Close observation may reveal more details than observed farther away. • Disadvantage: • More subjective than objective • Not very generalizable

9. Observational Research: Case Studies(Qualitative) • Detached Observation: Researcher observes from a distance. • Laboratory Observation: sociologist controls the environment in which a particular activity takes place. • Field Observation: research done “on location” • Advantages: • Behavior of participants not affected in field. • Easier to be objective. • Disadvantage: • Can miss information from a distance • In laboratory, behavior may be different.

10. Survey • Can be Qualitative or Quantitative • Ask people about attitudes, feelings, behaviors, opinions, etc… • Advantage: • Easy to administer • Can gather lots of information in a short amount of time. • Use of statistics • Disadvantage: • People may interpret questions differently than researcher intended. • Expensive in large numbers • Questions may be biased

11. Things to consider when conducting surveys: 1) What do you want to learn? 2) Who are you planning on surveying? - Select your sample (avoid biased sample) 3) How many people are you going to survey? 4) How are you going to survey people? • In Person? On paper? Via the Internet? 5) How long is your survey going to be? 6) What type of questions are you going to ask? • Open-ended (qualitative) or closed (quantitative) 7) What questions are you going to ask?

12. Qualitative Survey(Open Ended Questions)

13. Quantitative Survey(Closed Question) Likert-scale question

14. Creating Good Survey Questions • Avoid Complex wording or structure • Avoid Vague or overly general questions • Avoid words that could be misinterpreted • Do not lead your respondents to answer in a particular way • Avoid Double-Barreled Items • Avoid Loaded questions

15. Avoid Biased and Leading Questions • Biased questions are questions that encourage your participants to respond to the question in a certain way. They may contain biased terminology or are worded in a biased way. • Example: • Biased question: Don't you agree that campus parking is a problem? • Revised question: Is parking on campus a problem?

16. Questions that assume what they ask • These questions are a type of biased question and lead your participants to agree or respond in a certain way. • Biased question: There are many people who believe that campus parking is a problem. Are you one of them? • Revised question: Do you agree or disagree that campus parking is a problem?

17. Double Barreled Questions • A double-barreled question is one that has more than one question embedded within it. Participants may answer one but not both, or may disagree with part or all of the question. • Double-barreled question: Do you agree that campus parking is a problem and that the administration should be working diligently on a solution? • Revised question: Is campus parking a problem? (If the participant responds yes): Should the administration be responsible for solving this problem?

18. Double Negative Question • A type of question that asks for level of respondent agreement with a statement, typically using the word "not". • Example: Teachers should not be required to supervise students during recess.

19. Confusing or wordy questions • Make sure your questions are not confusing or wordy. Confusing questions will only lead to confused participants, which leads to unreliable answers. • Confusing questions: What do you think about parking? (This is confusing because the question isn't clear about what it is asking--parking in general? The person's ability to park the car? Parking on campus?) • Revised question: What is your opinion of the parking situation on campus?

20. Avoided Loaded Words and Questions • A word that carries unintended connotations • It is "loaded" with a presumption •  Can you begin to appreciate this wonderful opportunity I'm making available to you? •  Aren't you ashamed about how little effort you've made in this class? • How often do you do that? [assumes that you do it at least sometimes]

21. Analyzing Existing Sources(Qualitative) • Historical Method: examining materials from the past. • Make comparisons between then and now. • Find trends. • Content Analysis: • Analyze any form of recorded information.

22. Analyzing Existing Sources

23. Experiments(Qualitative or Quantitative) • Researcher controls the settings to find cause and effect relationship • Change one variable to determine effect. • How independent variable affects dependent. • Example: • Effects of dim lighting on social interaction. • Advantage: • Can be replicated • Variables can be manipulated • Disadvantage • Environment is artificial • Not suited for most sociology research

25. Research Ethics • Confidentiality • Deception • Informed Consent • Debriefing

26. Group Activity Your group will design a sociological experiment for Grady High School. Think of the “What Would You Do” experiments. • Follow the steps of the scientific method. • Define the problem. • Define your independent and dependent variables. • Is the work Qualitative or Quantitative? • What is your hypothesis? • How will you collect data (research design)? • What type of data will you collect? • How will you follow the ASA code of ethics (Informed consent, Deception, Risk, Confidentiality, Debreifing)? • Can your experiment be replicated? • Each group will present their idea. You may use Prezi.com or Power Point to present (if you have another way, run it by Ms. Stephens) • Everyone will include a description of the work completed by each member of the group.

27. Group Activity • Each group member must create a survey to go along with their research project. • The surveys can be given anytime during the project. • The surveys must follow the guidelines discussed. • The surveys must be at least 10 questions. • They may be qualititative or quantitative.

28. 15 minutes to prepare 1) Make sure you have a way to send Ms. Stephens your presentation. (If using Quia, send the link to the profile page). 2) Every member of the group must include a description of the work completed by each member of the group. 3) Each member of the group must turn in a survey. • Email: estephens7@student.gsu.edu

29. For each presentation: • How does this experiment follow the ASA code of ethics? • How does the experiment follow the scientific method? • What is good about this experiment? What needs improvement?

30. #21 difference between Participant and Detached observation • #22 What is debriefing • After quiz – work on vocab sheet

31. Research Activity • Go to www.msstephensclass.com and look under Sociology/Research Unit/Research Activity • Find your name and follow the directions on the site.

32. Debate Teams: Team One: Affirmative Dan Sophia Olivia Team Two: Negative William Gracie Akilah Caitlin