Sociological Investigation How does Sociology study society? © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.
How do you start? The Problem Review the Literature Develop a Hypothesis Unverified statement of a possible relationship between variables.
What are variables? A variable is… What kinds are there? Independent
What do we want when we measure a variable? Reliability (consistency) Repeated measurement = same result Validity (accuracy) Measuring what you want to measure
How are variables related? Correlation Relationship by which variables change together E.g. Grades and study time Positive correlation Spurious (false) correlation Caused by a 3rd. variable
How do we know if one thing caused another? 1. Correlated 2. Ind. Variable comes first 3. No third variable
Do you remember? What is an hypothesis What do we want when measuring a variable? What is a spurious correlation? What three things are needed to say one thing caused another?
What two important things do we need in research? Objectivity Max Weber (Value free) Personal neutrality toward the outcome of the research Replication Repeat study to assess accuracy E.g. Cold Fusion
Who do we study in our research? Population The group we can generalize to Sample Represents the entire population Simple, Random, Representative
Do you remember? What two important things do we need in research? What is the difference between a sample and a population?
How can we do the research? Observational methods Surveys Experiments
How can we observe people? Participant observation NSCC Prison story Field observation
How can we observe people? (cont.) Secondary analysis Saves time No control over bias Files Adult Development Program U.S. Census Case study Ted Bundy Split personality student
How can we study what we can not see? Surveys Interviews & questionnaires Open ended questions Usually interviews Closed ended questions Usually questionnaires Response problem
How is an experiment designed? Experimental group (New way) Control group (Old way)
What could be some problems with experiments? Hawthorne Effect A change in subject’s behavior as a result of being studied Placebo effect Getting the effect you expect Often used with drug studies
Do you remember? What would be a good method to study: Student attitudes toward NSCC? A successful presidential candidate? Which of two teaching methods works best? What is the main thing drug experiments need to control for?
Do you remember? What is the difference between: Open and closed questions? Control and experimental groups? Hawthorne effect and placebo effect?