C' Research Methods

1
C. Research Methods

• How do you know?
• Concepts
• Steps
• Methods
• Ethics

2
Methodological concepts

• Empirical evidence that is obtained through
  actual observation.

3
Methodological concepts

• Variable a concept whose value changes a factor
  in relation to other factors.
• Independent variable a variable that causally
  affects another.
• Dependent variable a variable causally
  influenced by another.

4
Methodological concepts

• Correlation a regular relationship (often
  statistical) between two variables.
• Positive high-high, low-low
• Example education and income
• Negative high-low, low-high
• Example employment and criminal behavior

5
Methodological concepts

• Hypothesis a guess or prediction about a given
  state of affairs, put forward as a basis for
  empirical testing.

6
Sociological research questions

• What? factual
• Everywhere? comparative
• At all times? developmental
• Why? theoretical

7
Steps of the scientific method

• Define a researchable problem.
• Review the existing evidence (the literature).
• Refine the question (make it precise may be
  hypothesis).
• Create a research design.
• Make your observations.
• Analyze and interpret the results.
• Report your findings.

8
Steps of the scientific method

• Define a researchable problem.
• Review the existing evidence (the literature).
• Refine the question (make it precise).
• Create a research design.
• Make your observations.
• Analyze and interpret the results.
• Report your findings.

9
Sociological research methods

• Ethnography
• Participant observation
• Fieldwork
• Surveys
• Populations
• Representative, random sampling

10
Sociological research methods

• Experiments
• Controls
• Not necessarily natural
• Comparative and historical
• Comparative questions
• Historical data

11
Ethics

• Dont harm subjects
• Confidentiality if desired
• no social or psychological damage
• Full disclosure of
• Methods
• Findings