Research Methods & Statistics in Sociology

Research methods Sociology is the science that studies human society and social behavior Sociologists like most scientists us empirical research to answer questions Research methods commonly used include Experience Observation Experimentation

Research methods The scientific method is an objective, logical and systematic way of collecting empirical data and arriving at conclusions Researchers who use the scientific method Try and prevent their own notions, values and biases from interfering with their research Use reason to in drawing conclusions from data Carry out research in an organized and methodical manner

Issues of interest The main interest is the structure and function of various features of society How are groups organized and how do these groups affect society Rates of behavior How groups of people with similar characteristics behavie under given circumstances Stability and change over time of a society’s features

Correlation Correlation does NOT show causation!!! Correlational studies are used to predict/look at a relationship between two variables Sociological variables include Race Age Gender Income Education level Illusory correlation When two variables appear to be related, but in fact are not Typically influenced by a third or extraneous variable Ex: hospitalization and death appear to be correlated, but this does not mean hospitalization cause death, but seriously ill people are typically hospitalized

Correlation Correlation coefficient Shows the degree of a relationship between two variables Perfect correlation (+/- 1.00) Positive/negative indicates the slope of the scatterplot No correlation (0.00)

Experiment The only way to establish causation is with an experiment Experiments manipulate an independent variable (IV) and study the effects by looking at the dependent variable (DV) Ex: IV – amount spent studying DV – grades

The research process in sociology Step 1: Define the problem Step 2: Review the literature Step 3: Form a hypothesis Step 4: Choose a research design Step 5: Collect the data Step 6: Analyze the data Step 7: Present conclusions

The research process in sociology Step 1: Define the problem Select a topic for study Develop operational definitions Operational definitions allows replication by defining key variables/characteristics in a study Ex: To effectively study the effects of social integration on suicide rates you must clearly define social integration and suicide rates

The research process in sociology Step 2: Reviewing the literature This allows sociologists to determine how others have approached a particular research problem and the conclusions they have reached Ex: reviewing statistics on suicide

The research process in sociology Step 3: Forming a hypothesis A hypothesis is a statement that predicts a relationship between two or more variables Ex: Suicide rates within groups vary inversely depending on which group members are integrated into society

The research process in sociology Step 4: Choose a research design Surveys Experiments Observational studies Analysis of existing sources Ex: statistically analyze official records on suicide rates for a particular nation to test the hyposthesis

The research process in sociology Step 5: Collect the data Once a sociologist has chosen a research design, they follow the design in terms of collecting data Ex: recording the results of a survey on suicide

The research process in sociology Step 6: Analyze the data Data is collected to support or reject the hypothesis Researchers must be careful to maintain their objectivity and not read into the data to only see what they want or else the study is biased

The research process in sociology Step 7: present the conclusions Drawing conclusions from the data and presenting the research findings to others Research reports are often published in: professional journals Scholarly books

Basic Research Methods The Historical Method Examines materials from the past that contain information of interest to sociologists This allows researchers to learn about events that happened in the recent past or long ago Trends Personal points of view The materials can include: Toys Clothing Pictures Diaries newspapers

Basic Research Methods Content analysis looks at recorded communication Radio Television Movies Art magazines Books documents Content analysis This method involves counting the number of times a particular word, phrase, idea, event, symbol, or other element appears in a given context This method is popular because it is easy to use and is inexpensive

Basic Research Methods The survey method Allows sociologists to collect data on attitudes and opinions from large numbers of people Survey/Questionnaires Pro: a lot of info in a short period of time Con: must rely solely on answers to draw a conclusion Interviews Pro: allows researcher to clarify information Con: time consuming and expensive

Basic Research Methods Observation Allows researchers to observe behavior of individuals in actual social settings Detached observations (naturalistic observation) Pro: behavior is not affected since people don’t know they’re being watched Con: may miss important details Participant observations Pro: researcher is directly involved Con: if not involved anonymously their presence may affect participant behavior

Basic Research Methods Case study Intensive analysis of a person, group, event, or problem Pro: provides an in-depth information on infrequent or temporary event (natural disasters) Con: can’t generalize

Basic Research Methods Correlation A correlation is a measure of the relationship between two variables. A variable is any behavior or condition that can change in quantity or quality. Ex: age, hair color, weight, height Correlation does NOT show causation (aka cause and effect) When two variable have a relationship we say they are correlated Ex: Studying and good grades

Basic Research Methods Correlation Coefficient A correlation coefficient describes the relationship between variables. A perfect positive correlation is +1.00 A perfect negative correlation is -1.00 No correlation is 0

Basic Research Methods

Basic Research Methods Causation The only way to prove causation is with an experiment. In an experiment researchers manipulate variables to establish cause and effect. The Independent Variable (IV) is manipulated by the researcher The Dependent Variable (DV) is the outcome/effect Example: The student’s test grade (DV) depends on the amount of time spent studying (IV).

Basic Research Methods Causation cont… Researchers use control and experimental groups to study the differences due to the manipulation of the IV. The control group gets a placebo or “fake” The experimental group gets the IV manipulated Ex: effects of alcohol The control gets the placebo or fake beer (O’dool’s) The experimental group gets real alcohol

Statistics Statistical Analysis Using mathematical data Measures of central tendency Mean – mathematical average Median – middle score Mode – most frequently occurring number

Statistics Measures of variation Range – mathematical difference between highest and lowest scores Standard deviation – how much scores vary around the mean You will not need to know how to do a standard deviation, just know what it is 

Statistics