Doing Sociological Research

1
Doing Sociological Research

• Research and theory go together
• Application of scientific method minimizes
  problems inherent with common sense

2
A Research Model

• Select a topic
• Define the problem
• Review the literature
• Formulate a hypothesis

• Choose a research design
• Collect the data
• Analyze the results
• Share the results

3
Six Research Methods

• Surveys
• Participant observation
• Secondary analysis
• Documents
• Unobtrusive methods
• Experiments

4
Values in Research

• Weber - sociology must be value free
• Sociologists are human, and thus possess their
  own ideology (value full)
• As researchers, they must remain objective -
  replication is a means of verifying objectivity

5
Observational Methods

• Direct behavior observed firsthand
• vs.
• Indirect only evidence of behavior is
• observed
• Example observing the favorite studying spots of
  students on campus

6
Observational Methods

• Participant researcher is a regular participant
  in the activities or group being observed
• vs.
• Nonparticipant does not participate in group
  activities while observing
• Example Drug Cultures

7
Observational Methods

• Overt those being observed are aware of
  researchers presence and intentions
• vs.
• Covert those being observed are NOT aware of
  researchers presence and intentions
• Example White Supremacy Groups

8
Observational Methods

• Structured the investigator looks for and
  systematically records the incidence of specific
  behaviors
• vs.
• Unstructured all behavior considered relevant
  and is recorded
• Example Daycare Studies

9
Goals of Observational Studies

• Inductive vs. Deductive Logic
• Inductive from the data to the theory
• Deductive from the theory to the data
• Exploratory
• To find out relationships between variables
• Descriptive vs. Theoretical

10
Potential Problems with Observational Studies

• Subject reactivity
• How do the participants respond to being watched?
• going native
• Getting too involved
• Sampling issues
• Is the group selected an accurate representation
• Ethical issues

11
Surveys

• Self-report Data Collection Methods
• Interview in-person telephone
• Questionnaire in-person telephone
• Mailed Questionnaire
• Expect a 10 response rate

12
Types of Data

• Data to be collected can be
• Demographic data
• Personality data
• Attitude scales

13
Sampling Size

• Sampling and Data Collection
• Sampling
• Population
• Three Main Types of Probability sampling
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified Random Sampling
• Cluster sampling

14
Non-probability Sampling

• Four Main Types of Non-Probability Sampling
• Accidental, Haphazard or Convenience Sampling
• Expert Sampling
• Quota Sampling
• Proportional quota sampling
• Non-proportional quota sampling
• Snowball Sampling

15
The Focus Group Interview

• Steps Involved in the Interview
• Principles of focus group facilitation and
  moderation
• Creating the Survey

16
The Other Methods

• Secondary analysis
• Documents
• Experiments