Chapter 2 Doing Sociological Research The Research Process The Tools of Sociological Research Prediction, Sampling, and Statistical Analysis Is Sociology Value-free?

The Research Process Sociology is empirical and uses the scientific method. Sociological studies may be quantitative and statistically sophisticated or qualitatively based.  

Steps in Sociological Research Developing a Research Question Creating a Research Design Gathering Data Analyzing the Data Reaching Conclusions and Reporting Results

Sources of Research Questions Past research Casual observation of human behavior Social policy Sociological theory

Creating a Research Design Will the research be qualitative or quantitative? Will the research test a hypothesis or involve exploratory research? How will the data be gathered?

Tools of Sociological Research Survey Research Participant Observation Controlled Experiments Content Analysis Comparative and Historical Research Evaluation Research

Prediction and Probability Sociology analyzes, explains, and predicts human social behavior in terms of trends and probabilities. Researchers can predict patterns of behavior but they cannot predict specific incidents of behavior.

Statistical Mistakes Citing a correlation as a cause Over-generalizing Building in bias Faking data Using data selectively

Research Ethics Should researchers collect data without letting research subjects know they are being studied? Do researchers have the right to hold data in confidence from public officials?