4= sociological research methods
TRANSCRIPT
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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