Chap 2 Sociological Investigation In this chapter, we will learn: 1.The differences between Common Sense vs. Scientific Evidence a. Defining Concepts b. Reliability and Validity c. Relationships Among Variables 2. The importance of Subjective Interpretation 3. Methods of Sociological Research

1. Why do people engage in research? ( e.g.,I am interested in how students define success, and how they reach their goals.)

2. Evaluate the following statements: a. Men earn more than Women (Under the same conditions, women earn 74 cents per dollar that man earn.) b. Most people marry because they are in love c. U.S. per capita GDP $25,314 Oil-rich Kuwait per capita GDP $29,010 So, Kuwait is richer/wealthier than U.S. d. U.S. is a middle-class society in which most people are more or less equal. (5 % top rich people control 50% of the nation’s total wealth.

Fundamental requirements to sociological investigation: 1.Seeing the world sociologically Applying the sociological perspective: a. Seeing the general from the particular b. Seeing the strange from the familiar c. Seeing the social phenomena from global perspective 2.Asking questions

The Elements of Science Concepts: a mental construct that represents some part of the world in a simplified form Variable: a concept whose value changes from case to case. Measurement: the process of determining the value of a variable in a specific case. Defining Concepts: Operational a variable means to specify exactly what one is to measurement in assignment a value to a variable.

Reliability vs. Validity; Objective Research vs. Subjective Interpretation: Reliability refers to consistency in measurement. Validity means measuring precisely what one intends to measure, that is, hitting the bull’s eye again and again. Objectivity: Max Weber-Value Free Research Subjective Interpretation:

The Methods of Sociological Research 1. The Experiment – Testing a Hypothesis - The Hawthorne Effect 2. Survey Research – Asking Questions 3. Participant Observation -In the Field 4. Secondary and Historical Analysis -Using Available Data

Define the problem Review the literature Formulate the hypothesis Select the research design then Collect and analyze data Experiment Participant Observation Survey Secondary data analysis Scientific Research Method Develop the conclusion and write the report Ideas for further research Scientifically, objectively and logically to evaluate the facts collected.

3 Methodological Approaches in Sociology What is reality: How do we conduct research Theories/ paradigms related Society is an orderly system; reality is out there Ongoing interaction reality is socially constructed meanings Qualitative subjective Participant Symbolic interaction Structural functionalism Social conflict Pattern of inequality Reality is about domination Strategy to bring about desired change Activist Gather empirical data, quantitative Objective observer ScientificInterpretiveCritical

Assemble together: Ten steps in Sociological Investigation 1.What is your topic? 2.What have others already learned? 3. What-exactly-are your questions? 4. What will you need to carry out research? 5. Are there ethical concerns? 6.What method will you use? 7.How will you record the data? 8.What do the data tell you? 9.What are your conclusions? 10. How can you share what you’ve learned?

Concepts and Glossary 1.Empirical evidence: information we can verify with our senses 2. Reliability: consistency in measurement 3. Validity: measuring precisely what one intends to measure. 4. Hypothesis: an unverified statement of a relationship between variables 5. Spurious correlation: an apparent, although false relationship between two or more variables caused by some other variable. 6. Hawthorne effect: a change in a subject’s behavior caused simply by the awareness of being studied.

7.Cause and effect: a relationship in which change in one variable (the independent variable causes change in another (the dependent variable) 8.Population and sample: the former is the people who are the focus of research; the later is a part of a population researcher select to represent the whole. 9.Qualitative research: investigation, in which a researcher gathers impressionistic, not numerical data. 10.Quantitative research: investigation in which a researcher collects numerical data.

11.Secondary analysis: a research method in which a researcher uses data collected by others 12.Inductive logical thought: reasoning that transforms specific observations into general theory. 13.Deductive logical thought: reasoning that transforms general theory into specific hypothesis suitable for testing.

How to do the references/ bibliography Barry, Kathleen.”Feminist Theory: The Meaning of Women’s Liberation.” In Barbara Haber, ed., The Women’s Annual Boston: G. L. Hall, 1983: Amnesty International. ” The Death Penalty: List of Abolitionist and Retentionist Countries.” [Online] Available intcam/dp/abrelist.htm, April, 2000 Berger, Peter L. Invitation to Sociology. New York:Anchor Books, 1963 Books Journals Online Two major resources quoting styles: APA and MLA

Quiz 1- in group format 1. Select one topic from the following social phenomena, and CHAT with your group members. Write down all the opinions. Then, apply 3 sociological paradigms/theories to ANALYZE the issue and layout all the possible perspectives from this topic. (1) Cloning human beings, (2) Internet in daily life, (3) The role and function of Religion, (4) Military Retaliation. 2. Select one of the above topics as your research title, then layout the research procedure. You need the tools and more important - the sociological imagination

Quiz 2- Individual Format: True and false with correction 1.___To prove God exists or not, is an Empirical research. 2.___Hawthorne Effect is an unverified statement of a relationship between variables. 3.___A researcher collects numerical data in his/her investigation is called qualitative research. 4.___A reasoning that transform specific observation into general theory is called Inductive Logical Thought. 5.___Making use of existing data in research is called quantitative research.

Quiz 2- Individual Format: 6.___Validity in research refers to measuring precisely what one intends to measure. 7.___In cause and effect analysis, the cause part is called dependent variable, and the effect part is called independent variable. 8.___There are 4 kinds of truth: belief/faith, wisdom of experts; general agreement; and science 9.___A critical approach of methodology intends to bring about desired change; researcher is an activist. 10.___The interpretive methodological approach will develop a quantitative account of the subject sense people make of their world.