1. Social Research Methods
Introduction
Chapter 1 Neuman and Robson

2. How do we know about the world around us?
Authority
Tradition
Common sense
Media
Personal experience
Overgeneralization
Selective observation
Premature closure
Halo effect

3. “Confirmation Bias” Read Bob McDonald’s “Howling at the Moon”
We tend to interpret information in a manner that confirms our existing beliefs
At the same time we ignore or overlook any new information that contradicts what we already “know”

4. The Nature of Scientific Theory
A. The Two Tasks of Science
Discovery
Explanation
B. Properties of scientific knowledge
Assertions about relationships
Empirical referents
Sensory verification
Deductive structure
Allows for prediction

5. The Nature of Scientific Theory (cont.)
C. Desirable characteristics of science
Abstract, verifiable, intersubjective agreement
D. Goals of science
Provide method to understand causality and to predict
E. Causality
Association
Time order
Non-spuriousness
Theoretical justification

6. The Nature of Scientific Theory (cont.)
F. Testable propositions vs. parsimonious explanations
G. Problems unique to the social sciences
Empirical measurement
Control
Ethics
Bias
The human subject

7. H. What is Research?
Real Research = the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information
Criteria for research
Start with clear question/problem
Plan of how to proceed (methodology)
Acknowledgement of assumptions
Data gathered to solve problem (not indiscriminate)
Cyclical process
The research process (see p. 9 in text)

8. Research Design
Influenced by:
Current knowledge
Cost
Ethics
Skills

9. Dimensions of Research
A. Style of Research
Exploratory
Descriptive
Explanatory
B. Purpose or Focus
Basic
Applied

10. Dimensions of Research (cont.)
C. Time
Cross-sectional
Longitudinal
D. Data Collection Technique
Quantitative
Qualitative

11. Schools of Thought
Quantitative Research
Qualitative Research
Meanings, concepts, and definitions Quality assessed through words, images, and description
Meaningfully expressed by numbers
Provides counts and measures
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 11

12. The Quantitative-Qualitative “Divide” in Research
Is really an artificial divide
Deductive vs inductive
Hard vs soft science
Value-free vs value-laden
Objective vs subjective
The research process more accurately can be described as a cyclical search for social truth

13. The Wheel of Research