4= sociological research methods

8/10/2019 4= Sociological Research Methods

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SociologicalResearchHow do sociologists study social behavior?


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What Constitutes a Research

Topic? Unanswered question

Unsolved question

Concern

Query Statement of inquiry


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Types of Research

Descriptive

Familiar Field

Fact Finding

Very Specific

Investigative

Explorative

UnfamiliarProbe

Geeratecompletely newideas

May needfurther

research

Experimental

Particular area

Variables:Dependent andIndependentVariable

ControlledGroup and

ExperimentalGroup

Marketing,Motivation etc


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Hypothesis: a supposition or proposed explanation made on

the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further

investigation.


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What is a Literature review?

Systematic review of available resources

Theoretical and conceptual concepts

Identification of independent and dependent variables

Measurement and operational definitions

Selection of appropriate research technique Sampling strategy

Statistical technique

Findings and conclusions of similar studies studied


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Where do I find Sources of Information for my

Literature Review?

Books

Journals

Internet

Data bases Archives

Interviews

Observations

Reports

Records


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How to Select an Appropriate

Methodology?

What is the nature of the problem being investigated?

Is the problem being investigated subjective or objective?

Types research methods:

Qualitative

Quantitative

Mixed (qualitative and quantitative)


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The Sociological Research

Process Quantitative Research- has the goal of objectivity and data

that can be measured

-typically relies on complex statistical techniques (think

numbers- quantity)

-example: statistically examining the relationships among churchmemberships, divorce and migration, and the impact of suicide rates

Qualitative Research- relies on interpretation and description

of underlying meanings and patterns of social relationships(think open-ended subjective questions)

-example: analyzing the content of suicide notes, asking people

about their lives and general reactions


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What are some of the Common Types

of Qualitative Methodology?

Surveys

Longitudinal

Cross-sectional, correlation

Experimental

Quasi-experimental

Ex-post facto research


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What are some of the Common Types

of Quantitative Methodology?

Biographical

Phenomenological

Ethnographical

Case study


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How to Collect Data?

Observations

Interviews

Reports

Records

We will explore these soon have patience


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Let us Explore more


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Sociological Research

Can a devout Catholic study abortion without being influenced

by his/her religion?

Answer is yes. It is possible by following sociological

research/scientific method.


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Need for Objectivity

Need for Value Neutrality

Need to be professionally competent

Need for Ethically Correct

Objectivity Value Neutral

Exclude your emotions, feelings,

perceptions, and one's beliefs.

FACTUAL basis of the statemements.

Value neutrality, as described by Max

Weber, is the duty of sociologists to

identify and acknowledge their

own valuesand overcome their

personal biases when conducting

sociological research


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Doing Research ( Various

Methods of conductingResearch)


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Sampling

Observation

Questionnaire

Schedule

Interview

Scaling

Stratified Accidental Random Quota

%age fixed

Selection of Few Items from a particular group forobtaining relevant data that has the characteristics

of the group in order to draw conclusion for theentire group.


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Sampling

Observation

Questionnaire

Schedule

Interview

Scaling

Participant Non-Participant Quasi Participant

Field View

Good Repo

Can Remove

unwanted

Data can be

checked and

rechecked

Voice recorder Shopping

Behaviour


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Sampling

Observation

Question

naire

Schedule

Interview

Scaling

Open Ended Close Ended

Unstructured

Can be Modified

Flexible

Descriptive

Situational


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Sampling

Observation

Questionnaire

Schedule

Interview

Scaling

Documentation Observation Records

Historical facts Standard

questions

Diaries/

Temperature cart

Archives Observe and fill

Libraries Feedback etc


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Sampling

Observation

Questionnaire

Schedule

Interview

Scaling

Directed Non Directed Focused

Planned Open ended Subject expert

Systematic Impromptu Never deviate

from the topic

Predecided subjective

Structured


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scales take advantage of differences in intensity among the

indicators of a variable.

Sampling

Observation

Questionnaire

Schedule

Interview

Scaling

Thurston Likert SemanticDifferential

Scale

Bogardus

Ranking Widely

Used

social

distance

scale

Agree-

Disagree

Cumulative

Scale

Strongly

disagree

Disagree

Neither

agree nor

disagree

Agree

Strongly

agree


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Bogardus Scale (Social Distance)

As close relatives by marriage (score 1.00)

As my close personal friends (2.00)

As neighbors on the same street (3.00)

As co-workers in the same occupation (4.00)

As citizens in my country (5.00)

As only visitors in my country (6.00)

Would exclude from my country (7.00)


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Semantic Differential Scale

Very Much Somewhat Neither Somewhat Very MuchEnjoyable X UnenjoyableFunny X Not FunnyRelatable X Unrelatable


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Correlations

Sociologists are interested in finding correlationsbetween two

variables.

EXAMPLES

What is the correlation between student perceptions of the

teacher and grades?

What is the correlation between a females education level

and domestic violence?

What is the correlation between your income level and yourgeographic location?

What is the correlation between religious views and political

beliefs?


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Correlations Continued

What is the correlation between divorce rates and the state of

the economy?

What is the correlation between your familys income and

your grades?

What is the correlation between gender and pay?

What is the correlation between a nations overall wealth and

the gap between the rich and poor?

What is the correlation between age and musical

preferences?


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Correlation v/s Causality

Breakfast=> Active

Skipping it=> Obese

Physical activity

Poverty

Less Sleep etc


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Classifying Research

Opportunities

Survey

Experiment

Field Research


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Steps of Sociological Research

The scientific method involves eight basic steps:1) Observation of an event that stimulates thinking.2) Defining or classifying the terms or events beingconsidered.3) Formulating the research issue or hypothesis.4) Generating a theory or proposition - a generalstatement that serves as a potential answer to theresearch question.5) Creating a research design in order to testwhether the theory or proposition is valid.6) Collecting data-working through the researchdesign to make observations.7) Analyzing the data8) Making conclusions and evaluating the theory.


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DURKHEIMS SUICIDE STUDY

DEFINING THE PROBLEM: WHAT ARE THE SOCIALPATTERNS RELATED TO SUICIDE?

1. WHAT COUNTED AS SUICIDE?

2. WHEN AND WHERE ARE SUICIDE MOST COMMON?3. WHAT SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS DO SUICIDE VICTIMS

SHARE?

Sociologist EmileDurkheim


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WHAT IS THE

INDEPENDENT

VARIABLE(S) IN

DURKHEIMSSTUDY?

FAMILY SIZE GEOGRAPHY

RELIGION

GENDER


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WHAT IS THEDEPENDENT

VARIABLE(S) INDURKHEIMS

STUDY?

THE SUICIDE RATE

THIS ISINFLUENCED BYTHE

INDEPENDENTVARIABLES


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RELATIONSHIPS OF

VARIABLES DIRECT RELATIONSHIP: BOTH VARIABLESINCREASE; BOTH VARIABLES DECREASE.

INVERSE RELATIONSHIP: THE VALUE OF ONEVARIABLE INCREASES AS THE VALUE OF THEOTHER DECREASES.

NULL HYPOTHESIS: THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIPBETWEEN VARIABLES.


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REVIEWING THE LITERATURE

STEP 2 WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT SUICIDE?

VICTIMS OF SUICIDE WERE ASSUMED TO BE

DEPRESSED, MENTALLY ILL, OR STRICKEN WITHUNBEARABLE LOSS.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT RATES OF SUICIDE IN

DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, SEASONS, ANDDIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS? DURKHEIM WOULDTEST THIS SUSPICION.


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HYPOTHESIS

STEP 3DURKHEIMS STUDY: THE MORE INTEGRATEDPEOPLE ARE INTO

THEIR SOCIAL GROUPS, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO COMMIT

SUICIDE


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CHOOSING A RESEARCH

DESIGNSTEP 4

DATA: FACTS, STATISTICS, STUDY RESULTS

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE (OBSERVE) THE DIFFERENTVARIABLES?

TWO VARIABLES:1) DEGREE OF INTEGRATION

2) RATE OF SUICIDE


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COLLECTING THE DATA

DURKHEIM RELIED ON GOVERNMENT RECORDSTHAT LISTED CAUSES OF DEATH.

DURKHEIM ALSO USED RECORDS THAT LISTEDTHE NUMBER OF SUICIDES AND GAVE STATISTICSABOUT THE VICTIMS: THEIR AGE, MARITALSTATUS, NATIONALITY, RELIGION.


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DURKHEIMS FINDINGS

THE MORE SOCIALLY INTEGRATED ONE IS, THE LESS LIKELY

ONE IS TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

WHAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN THE TWO

VARIABLES?


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CHALLENGES IN DOING RESEARCH

RELIABILITY

VALIDITY SPECIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN VARIABLES


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VALIDITY

THE DEGREE TO WHICH A STUDY MEASURES WHAT IT IS

ATTEMPTING TO MEASURE

MEASURING SOCIAL INTEGRATION BY USING INDICATORS LIKE

MARRIAGE RATES

MIGHT THE DATA BE DISTORTED? READ PAGE 36


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RELIABILITY

THE DEGREE TO WHICH A STUDY YIELDSTHE SAME RESULTS WHEN REPEATED BYTHE ORIGINAL RESEARCHER OR BY

OTHERS


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Sociological Research

The best way to conduct sociological research is to

triangulate- meaning to combine more than one method

Ethicsof sociological researchcode of ethics

Objectivity/integrity

Privacy/confidentiality Avoid harm to subjects

Informed consent

Disclose


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Thanks


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Field Research

Is the study of social life in its natural setting: observing and

interviewing people where they live, work, and play.

Qualitative data oriented

Case studies

Ethnography-is a detailed study of the life and activities of agroup of people by researchers who may live with that group

over a period of years

Interviews

Strengths and weaknesses?


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Experiments

Are carefully designed situations in which the researcherstudies the impact of certain variables on subjectsattitudes and behaviors

Experimental group (expose independent variable) vs. controlgroup(withhold independent variable)

Follow the scientific method

Hypothesis

Variables

Independent

Dependent variables

Use existing sources-

Secondary analysisuse previously collected data

Content analysisanalyze your results

4= sociological research methods

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