Sociological Research Methods

Outline Research Methods Overview

Scientific Method

Methods (Ethnography, Interviews, surveys, experiments)

Issues in sociological research

Values, Objectivity, Reactivity

Research Methods Methods are used to show if a theory’s claim is true

Quantitative-data put into numbers for statistical comparison

Qualitative-can’t be converted to numbers – data relates to meaning

Ex. Interviews or observation

Scientific method-provides researchers with steps to follow: begin with a general question

Literature Review-thorough search through previously published studies relevant to topic

Scientific Method Does watching violence on TV cause kids to behave

violently?

1.Form a hypothesis- theoretical statement explaining relationship b/w two or more variables Variable-one of two or more phenomena that a

researcher believes are related

2.Clearly define the variables so can measure accurately

3. Predict possible outcomes

4. Researcher collects data (experiment meant to isolate variables)

5. Analyze the data

Does watching violence on television cause children to behave violently? Albert Bandura (1965)

Children more likely to hit the clown doll themselves if they saw the TV actors being rewarded for their violent behavior

If the actors were punished, children were less likely to hit clown doll

Which Method to Use? Each sociological method has its own benefits and limitations

Ethnography-method based on studying people in their own environment in order to understand the meanings they attribute to their activities

Participant observation-researcher observes and becomes a member in a social setting Access-process by which ethnographer gains entry to a field

setting Has to be negotiated carefully

Researchers can either be overt or covert in their role

Fieldnotes-detailed notes describing activities and interactions with those being studied

Reflexivity-researcher’s identity can affect what’s going on

Ethnography Advantages

Excel at telling stories that might otherwise might not get told

Challenge preconceptions and stereotypes

Disadvantages

Lack of replicability-research that can be repeated by other researchers

Degree of representativeness

Bias-opinion held by researcher that might affect the research

Interviews Interviews-face-to-face information-seeking

conversation with subjects, or respondents

can be combined with other methods

Researcher must ID target population-entire group researcher would like to be able to generalize about

Sample-smaller group who are representative of larger group

Researcher must get informed consent-subjects must know what they’re getting into and explicitly agree to participate

Interviews Researchers must be careful to avoid leading

questions-questions that predispose a respondent to answer in a certain way

Double-barreled questions-questions that involve too many difficult issues at one time

Advantages Respondents speak in own words

Discover issues that may have been overlooked

Disadvantages Not always truthful

Not representative

Surveys Survey-method based on questionnaires administered

to a sample of respondents selected from target pop. Tends to be macro and quantitative

Answers are coded (turned into numerical data)

Pitfalls: leading questions, bias, double-barreled questions, & negative questions-ask respondents what they don’t think instead of what they do

Questions should be clear, and order of questions matters

Representative sample-findings can be generalized to entire population

Surveys Probability sampling-sample group mathematically

represents the larger population

Simple random sample-each member of pop. has an equal chance of being selected

Weighting-proportion of certain variables (race, gender, etc…) more closely reflects larger population

Surveys Advantages

Quick, vast amt. of data, can study large # of people

Strong reliability-degree to which same questions will produce similar answers

Disadvantages

Don’t allow for full range of expression

Weak on validity-degree to which a researcher is measuring what he thinks he is measuring

If goal of research is to support a point of view (POV)

Experimental Methods Sociologists have two goals when using experimental

methods: Develop tools with which to observe, record & measure data

Control for all other variables

Experiments-formal tests of specific variables and effects, performed in a controlled setting where all aspects of situation can be controlled Experimental group-the part of a test group that receives

the experimental treatment

Control group-part of a test group that is allowed to continue without intervention

Experimental Methods Experiments-(Does marriages counseling help couples

stay together?)

Experimental group-the part of a test group that receives the experimental treatment

Control group-part of a test group that is allowed to continue without intervention

Independent variable-factor that is predicted to cause change

Dependent variable-factor that is changed by the independent variable

What does it mean to be a boy or girl? People treated baby differently depending on what sex they thought it was.

When subjects thought the baby was a boy, they handled it less gently and talked in a louder voice.

When subjects thought it was a girl, they held the baby closer to themselves and spoke more softly.

Experiments Advantages

Manipulate social world

Can be repeated (have replicability)

Isolate variables in a controlled setting away from “real world” distractions

Disadvantages

Seek to eliminate elements that will have an unforeseen effect

Existing Resources Existing sources-any data that has already been

collected and is available for future research

Advantages

Able to work with info you couldn’t get yourself

Able to learn about many social worlds/time periods

Disadvantages

Can be misused if original questions answered in source aren’t same

Issues in Sociological Research Value-free sociology: ideal whereby researchers identify

facts without allowing their own beliefs to interfere

Comes from Max Weber’s “Science As a Vocation”

Separate facts from values

A debate continues between

Basic research-search for knowledge without agenda

and

Applied research-research designed to allow researcher to use what is learned to create some sort of change

Bias can be shown in terms of choosing a project, sample, wording, etc…

Objectivity and Reactivity Objectivity-impartiality/facts speak for themselves What is a fact?

Racist, sexist “facts” dominated

What presently passes for fact may someday be challenged

Reactivity-ways people and events react to being studied Hawthorne effect-specific example of reactivity;

desired effect is result of research

Our presence as researchers sometimes has effect on subjects