Chapter 2.1 Research Methods For Sociologists the world is their laboratory. Chapter 2.1

2.1 What is Research? SAMPLE- the small group of participants, out of the total number available, that a researcher studies. - representative - nonrepresentative - random sample A sample must be representative of the population a researcher is studying. For example, if you want to know how tall American men were, you don’t want to include a disproportionately large number of professional basketball players. Such a sample would be nonrepresentative. How to avoid: Take a purely random sample, so that each individual has an equal chance of being represented. For example, every twentieth name on a school enrollment list. OR you can deliberately pick individuals who represent the various subgroups in the population being studied. For example, the psychologist doing research on school children might select students of both sexes, of varying ages, of all social classes, and from all neighborhoods.

Methods of Research Survey Asking many people a fixed set of questions about a particular subject Advantages: They quickly and efficiently collect vast amounts of data from a large sample of diverse people. Disadvantages: 1.) Wording of Question is Key Why? 2.) Who asks them is influential Why? Radio-talk shows host that surveys his listeners about a political issue, The results are not likely to generalize the people as a whole. Those who feel strongly enough to volunteer their opinions may differ from . People lie to impress the surveyer. Are Americans ready and willing to vote for an African American President? How many times have you drank alcohol? Rather than Have you ever drank alcohol? 1936 presidential election the Literary Digest mailed 10 million ballots as a poll. With 23% responding the Literary Digest predicted Landon would win comfortably. FDR won with 61% of the vote. The digest sampled owners of telephones and cars and members of clubs. Over-sampling of the wealthy.

Surveys Types of Techniques Interview Questionnaire Open ended questions Closed ended questions Closed ended questions: questions a person must answer by choosing from a limited, predetermined set of responses. (1-4 stongly agree) Open ended questions: questions a person is to answer in his or her own words.

Secondary Analysis- using precollected information for data collection and research purposes. Census contains detailed info on topics such as income, education, race, sex, marital status, occupation, death rates and birth rates. The US dept of labor

Methods of Study (field research) B. Case Study An in-depth analysis of thoughts, feelings, beliefs, behaviors, etc. of a single individual, group, or community. Freud used case studies of his patients in developing his theories on personality. Advantages: Depth allows for cause and effect to be determined Disadvantages: Generalizations cannot be made- one person only kind of data. By itself, a case study does not prove or disprove anything. It may lead to ideas on experiments to make.

Field Research: research that takes place in a natural (nonlaboratory setting) Participant Observation: a case study where the researcher becomes a member of the group being studied.