Research Methods (Overview)

1
Research Methods (Overview)

• Experiments
• Surveys
• Unobtrusive methods
• Field Studies

2
Research Methods in Soc Sciences

• Experiments
• Survey research
• Field research
• Existing data research
• Comparative research

3
Classic Experiment

• At least two groups (control and experimental)
• Randomly assign people to groups
• Treat the experimental group by manipulation the
  independent variable
• Observe the effect of the treatment on the
  dependent variable in the experimental group
• Compare the dependent variable differences in the
  experimental and control groups

4
Experiment

• Classic experiment is not always possible
• There are other designs used as well

5
Asch Conformity Experiment

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vTYIh4MkcfJAfeature
  related

6
Milgram's Obedience to Authority Experiment 2009

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v0PassGyF8X8feature
  PlayListp5CC7F7D6054E7428index0playnext1
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v-WLV7mMwGz0feature
  related
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v6Ahc7FYFGnofeature
  related

7
Face Research (FaceResearch.org)

• Rate attractiveness (facial, voice, different
  ages, etc.) and other qualities in Flash-based
  tests designed by psychologists at the University
  of Aberdeen
• Each respondent is shown a pair of faces and
  asked to choose preference (of whatever quality
  is being tested) and rate images on a 1-10 scale

8
(No Transcript)
9
Bad Vibes

• Sound psychology experiment from Salford
  University to find out what makes a sound
  unpleasant.
• Fingernails on a blackboard?
• Babies screaming?
• Dentists drill?

10
(No Transcript)
11
Survey

• Data are usually collected through the use of
  questionnaires, although sometimes researchers
  directly interview subjects
• The questionnaire, or survey, can be a written
  document that is completed by the person being
  surveyed, an online questionnaire, a face-to-face
  interview, or a telephone interview

12
Field Study

•  A piece of research undertaken outside the
  laboratory or place of learning, usually in a
  natural environment or among the general public
• METHODS Observations and interviews

13
Observation

• Observation is a research technique in which a
  researcher directly observe the behavior of
  individuals in their usual social environments,
  not in a laboratory

14
Different strategies

• Complete Participant researcher goes
  undercover and does not tell people being
  observed that he/she is doing research
• Complete Observer researcher views things from a
  distance or one-way mirror
• Participant Observer people know that they
  are observed

15
Life history and case studies

• In-depth analysis of one or a few cases
• Sutherlands The Professional Thief (1937)
• Shaws The Jack-Roller A Delinquent Boy's Own
  Story

16
Unobtrusive Research

• Unobtrusive methods are strategies for studying
  peoples behavior in ways that do not have an
  impact on the subjects

17
Unobtrusive methods

• Use of existing statistics
• Content analysis

18
Statistics

• Source The National Crime Victimization Survey
  (NCVS)
• Ongoing since 1972, this survey of households
  interviews about 134,000 persons age 12 and older
  in 77,200 households each year about their
  victimizations from crime.

19
Triangulation

• Every method has both strengths and weaknesses
• Whenever possible researchers use more than one
  method to obtain data
• Triangulation methods are combined so that the
  strengths of one method overcome the weakness of
  another method

20
Example of Triangulation

• Suppose you study the impact of neighborhood
  problems on youth development
• Census information (unobtrusive) about poverty
  level in neighborhoods
• Survey among youth and parents
• Observations