Research

How to do Research
What is a Valid
Sociological Topic?
• Macro - Broad Matters

• Micro - Individualistic Matters

Common Sense and the
Need for Research
• What Everyone Knows May Not Be True

• Move Beyond Guesswork

A Research Model

• Selecting a Topic

• Defining a Problem

• Reviewing the Literature

• Formulating a Hypothesis
A Research Model

• Choosing a Research Method

• Collecting Data

• Analyzing Results

• Sharing Results
Research Methods

Surveys
• Selecting a Sample
• Random Sample
• Stratified Random Sample

• Asking Neutral Questions

Research Methods

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

• Interviews
• More Researcher Control
• Time Consuming
• Interviewer Bias
• Structured Interviews
• Unstructured Interviews
• Establishing Rapport
Research Methods

Participant Observation
• Researcher Participates
• Problems with Generalizability
• Done for Exploratory Work
• Generates Hypotheses
Research Methods

Case Studies
• Focus on Single
• Event
• Situation
• Individual
• Reveals Detail
• Problem with Generalizability
Research Methods

Secondary Analysis

• Analyze Data Collected by Others

• Researcher Cannot Be Sure of Data Quality

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

Experiments

• Experimental Group

• Control Group

• Independent Variables

• Dependent Variables
Research Methods

Unobtrusive Measures

• Observe People Without Them Knowing

• Question of Ethics
Deciding Which
Method to Use
• Access to Resources

• Access to Subjects

• Purpose of Research

• Researcher’s Background and Training

Deciding Which
Method to Use
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Emphasis on Precise Measurement
• Uses Statistics and Numbers
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Emphasis on Observing, Describing, and Interpreting Behavior
How Not to do
Research
• Choose Biased Sample
• Ask Biased Questions
• List Biased Choices
• Discard Undesirable Results
• Misunderstand Subjects World
• Analyze Data Incorrectly
Controversy in Research

• Poke into Private Areas of Lives

• Threatens Those with a Stake

Ethics in Sociological
Research
• Openness, Honesty, and Truthfulness
• Forbids Falsifying Results
• Condemns Plagiarism
• Subjects’ Informed Consent
• Subjects’ Anonymity
How Research and Theory
Work Together
• Neither Research nor Theory can Stand Alone

• Theories Must Be Tested

• Findings Must be Explained with Theory

Thank you for your
Patience.