1. Social Research Methods

2. Social Research Generalizations!!
Goal: Test common sense & peoples assumptions then replace with fact & evidence and make…………
Generalizations!!
Definition: statement about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things in that group
- Citation: Merriam-Webster Dictionary

3. Social Research Where to we do research? The whole world
is a sociologists lab!

4. VS. Two Types : Quantitative: research that relies on numerical data
Qualitative: research which uses observation and
relies upon descriptive data

5. Methods: Versus Experiment: research that takes place in a lab setting
(limited use in social research)
Field Research: research that takes place in a natural
(non-lab) setting (primarily used in Social Research)
Versus

6. Methods: Two Types: Quantitative Qualitative
Survey: research method in which people respond to
questions (most common method used in research)
Two Types:
Questionnaire: asking a sample population to respond to a
to a series of closed-ended questions
Interview: asking of open-ended questions in order to
gain required information
Quantitative
Qualitative

7. Methods: Secondary/Historical Analysis: reading and analyzing
another persons data and r research on a topic
Case Study: in depth examination of a single group,
problem, or community

8. Methods: Natural Observation: research based on observation of people
in any given environment (place)
Participant Observation: research in which the researcher becomes
involved with the group being studied

9. Theoretical Perspectives:
Topic of Study: School Violence
Theoretical Perspective:
Research Method:
Reasoning:
Functionalist
Theory
Survey
A questionnaire on violence in high schools is sent to a national, random sample of principals. The survey examines a possible relationship between incidence of school violence and family life.
Conflict
Case Study
A particular high school with high levels of fights is examined with respect to the relationship between fights at school and family life at home. Researchers interview principals, teachers, and students.
Symbolic Interactionist
Participant Observation
Concealing their identity, a researcher takes a temporary job at a high school with lots of fights at school. They attempt to observe a possible link between fights and family life.

10. The Social Research Method
Step 1:
Choose a Topic……AND……Ask a Question
Example:
Topic  Sport and School Behavior and Grades
Question  What is the impact does playing a high
school sport have on the behavior of
student athletes in class?

11. The Social Research Method
Step 2:
Literature Review
What does research that has already been done say about this topic?
Example:
I would read and review:
American Sociological Association Journal Articles about Sports & School
Books by authors who studied this topic previously
Interviews from athletes (high school and college)
Newspaper Articles about Sports and School

12. The Social Research Method
Step 3:
State your Hypothesis
What do I think will be my answer?
Example:
Hypothesis  Students who play a high school sport
will be on better behavior in school
versus those students who do not
play a high school sport.

13. The Social Research Method
Step 4:
Develop your Research Plan
Choose your methods to collect data (3)
Create a timeline for your research
Choose your research population
Example:
Methods  Survey, Interview, Secondary Analysis (data)
Timeline  I will conduct my research over a period of
2 weeks
Population  I will research 50 student-athletes and 50
non-athletes grades 9-12 at SHS

14. The Social Research Method
Step 5:
Collect your Data
Go out and perform your research!

15. The Social Research Method
Step 6:
Analyze your Data
Analyze your data and look for the following:
Patterns and Relationships
Correlations and Causations
Identify Variables
Mean, Median, Mode
Example:
Patterns  While a student athlete behavior improved in class
Variable  Playing a Sport (Independent) Behavior (Dependent)
Relationship  Being a student-athlete causes better behavior in
class (Direct Relationship)
Correlation  I found a positive correlation between student-
athletes and positive behavior

16. The Social Research Method
Step 7:
State your Conclusions
What generalizations can be drawn from the results of your research?
Was your hypothesis proven correct or incorrect?
Example:
Hypothesis  My hypothesis was proven to be correct
Generalization  Students who play high school sports tend to
behave better in class.

17. THE
END