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Sociology: Research Methods. A Research Model 1. Selecting a Topic 2. Defining a Problem 3. Reviewing the Literature 4. Formulating a Hypothesis.

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Presentation on theme: "Sociology: Research Methods. A Research Model 1. Selecting a Topic 2. Defining a Problem 3. Reviewing the Literature 4. Formulating a Hypothesis."— Presentation transcript:

1 Sociology: Research Methods

2 A Research Model 1. Selecting a Topic 2. Defining a Problem 3. Reviewing the Literature 4. Formulating a Hypothesis

3 A Research Model 5. Choosing a Research Method 6. Collecting Data 7. Analyzing Results 8. Sharing Results

4 Methods for Research  Surveys-series of questions  Selecting a Sample- a group of people that represents a population 1. Random Sample-chance selection 2. Stratified Random Sample Asking Neutral Questions with a closed end response Asking Open-ended Questions with persons own words

5 Research Methods continued  Questionnaires  Self-Administered  Allow the Largest Sample  Low Cost  Loss of Researcher Control

6 Research Methods-Field Research  Participant Observation (Fieldwork)  Researcher Participates  Problems with Generalizability  Done for Exploratory Work  Generates Hypotheses

7 Example of Participant Observation  Concealing her identity, researcher takes a temporary job at a high school with low funding.  Goal: to observe a link between school violence and school funding

8 Research Methods continued  Secondary Analysis  Analyze Data Collected by Others such as Durkheim’s suicide study of 1897  Researcher Cannot Be Sure of Data Quality

9 Research Methods continued  Documents  Examine Books, Newspapers, Diaries, etc.  Limited Scope  Cannot Study Topic Unless Access is Granted

10 Research Methods  Experiments  Experimental Group-  Control Group  Independent Variables-causes something to occur, change or look for changes in this  Dependent Variables-What results from the change in the independent variable

11 Types of Variables

12 Example of Variable  Independent Variable-Time spent studying…  Dependent Variable: Better grades

13 How do variables differ?  Quantitative & Qualitative Variables  Quantitative Variable-a variable that can be measured, given a number  Qualitative Variable-membership in category such as marital status, sex, membership in groups such as Catholic, Sophmore/Senior, Cheerleader, Football player

14 Research Methods  Unobtrusive Measures  Observe People Without Them Knowing  Question of Ethics-is it morally right or wrong

15 Deciding Which Method to Use  Available Resources  Access to Subjects  Purpose of Research  Researcher’s Background and Training

16 Gender in Sociological Research  Affects Orientation and Attitudes  Interviewer Bias  Women and Men Lead Different Lives  In Past, Women’s Experiences Neglected

17 Ethics in Sociological Research  Protecting Subjects: The Brajuha Research Protected the rights of subjects from court subpoena of his research


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