Sociological Investigation

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Sociological Investigation

• The Basics of Sociological Investigation
• Science Basic Elements and Limitations
• The Methods of Sociological Research

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Empirical Evidence- Is information we can verify
with our common sense.

• Science A logical system that bases knowledge on
  direct, systematic observations concerning human
  behavior.

• First Framework Scientific Sociology- The study
  of society based on systematic observations of
  social behavior.

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• Science of Sociology- is based on empirical
  knowledge that is as valid as possible given
  existing research procedures. Scientific
  knowledge is intended to be value-free insofar as
  it is concerned with fact rather than morality.
  Scientific facts are continually subject to
  revision in light of new discoveries.

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• Scientific Explanation-The goal of scientific
  explanation is to permit the scientist to move
  beyond simple description to make reliable
  statements concerning the nature of relationships
  exiting in observed phenomena. Reliable
  statements posses a high degree of certainty that
  what is predicted will be the successful
  combination of theory and relevant research. An
  orderly system that looks at the reality of what
  is out there.

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Science The Basic Elements and Limitations

• Positivism- assumes that an objective reality
  exists and is really out there.
• Concept- refers to either relations or
  descriptions. Concepts are not statements and
  are neither true nor false.
• When concepts are interrelated in a scheme, a
  theory begins to emerge.

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• Variable- A trait or characteristic that can vary
  in value to magnitude form case to case.
• Characteristics that are normally variable can be
  made constant through experimental design, as
  when a researcher focuses on people of the same
  age, sex, social class, and so on, in order to
  study variation in other traits.
• Measurement- a set of rules for the assignment of
  numbers to the different outcomes a variable can
  exhibit.
• Example strongly disagree, disagree, neutral,
  agree, strongly agree.

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• Concepts such as an inch, meter, and the like do
  not exist in nature but are arbitrary measures of
  length, with agreed upon meanings, invented by
  scientists.
• Operationalizing a Variable-Specifying exactly
  what one is to measure before assigning a value
  to a variable.

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• Reliability-the consistency in measurement. In
  order to have reliability the test must be able
  to be replicated and receive the same results.
• Validity- Is the precision in measuring exactly
  what one intends to measure. A test must measure
  exactly what is says it will measure.
• Correlation- the measured strength between two
  variables.
• Spurious correlation- apparent although false
  relationship between two or more variables caused
  by some other variable.
• Control- holding constant all variables except
  one in order to see clearly the effects of that
  variable.
• In order for research to be true it must have
  both reliability and validity.

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• Objectivity- a state of personal neutrality in
  conducting research.

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Max Weber a German Sociologist (1864-1920)

• Father of Sociological Method.
• Thought it was of great importance to see the
  other persons point of view.
• Weber firmly believed that, although true
  objectivity was impossible, the sociologist
  should attempt to remain value-free.

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A Second Framework Interpretive Sociology

• Interpretive Sociology- Max Weber pioneered this
  framework, according to Weber humans do not
  simple act we engage in meaningful actions. The
  focus is on how individuals interpret this
  interaction and place meaning on everyday
  interactions. It is the interpretation of
  peoples actions where meaning is placed.
• Interpretive Sociology is the study of society
  that focuses on the meanings people attach to
  their social world.

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A Third Framework Critical Sociology

• Karl Marx founded the critical approach. He did
  not believe that society exists in a natural
  state with a fixed order.
• Critical Sociology- the study of society that
  focuses on the need for social change. Critical
  Sociologists see patterns of inequality and there
  is a dominance to reality.

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Gender and Research

• Gender- the personal traits and social positions
  that members of a society attach to being female
  of male.
• Androcentricity- Male centered research.
• Overgeneralization- Avoid making
  overgeneralizations about the population, there
  is a need to stay focused on what is being
  researched.
• Gender blindness- The lives of men and women are
  very different.
• Double standards- Double standards should not be
  given to men or to women.
• Interference- The researcher could distort the
  study if the respondent or researcher is affected
  by the sex of the other.

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The Methods of Sociological Research

• A systematic plan for conducting research.
• Experiment- a research method for investigating
  cause and effect under highly controlled
  conditions.
• Hypothesis- an unverified statement of a
  relationship between variables.
• A hunch or guess that is generally stated as a
  proposition of the if . . .then. . . variety.

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• Hawthorn Effect- a change in the subjects
  behavior caused by the awareness of being
  studied.

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Asking Questions Survey Questions

• Survey- a research method in which subjects
  respond to a series of statements or questions in
  a questionnaire or an interview.
• Conducting Interviews- a series of questions a
  researcher administers in person to respondents.

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• Population- The larger the population the better.
  60 to 100 is a good number for a small survey.
• Sample- The part of the population that
  represents the whole. The participants in a
  survey are the sample population of that survey.
• Questionnaires- a series of written questions a
  researcher presents to subjects.
• Interview- a series of questions a researcher
  administers in person to respondents.

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Using Available Data

• Secondary Analysis- a researcher uses the data
  available. By using previous research a can
  exhaust a bed of research and find what is
  important to the field being studied.
• Inductive Logic- from the inside out. The
  researcher works from the specific to the
  general. The researcher works from the ground
  level up and the observations lead to a general
  theory.
• Deductive Logic- from the outside in. The
  researcher works from the general to the
  specific. The theory is stated first then a
  hypothesis is formed and a method is found to
  test it.