Welcome To Sociological Research Methods Chuck Brown, Ph.D. Albright College

Sociological Research Methods Chapters 1 & 2 (and then some)

Three Types of Research (Chap. 2) Quantitative (Deductive) Quantitative (Deductive)  You start with a theory, and then collect data to test the theory Qualitative (Inductive) Qualitative (Inductive)  You collect data and then develop (induce) a theory that explains the data you collected Descriptive (Can be either quantitative or qualitative) Descriptive (Can be either quantitative or qualitative)

4 Categories for Research (Chap. 1) Descriptive Descriptive  E.g. Who is homeless, how many are there? Exploratory Exploratory  E.g. What is it like to be homeless? Explanatory Explanatory  What causes homelessness? Evaluative Evaluative  Did the new state initiative to curb homelessness work?

Three Methods of Research (Chaps. 6 & 7) Surveys Surveys Interviews Interviews Participant Observation (Field Research) Participant Observation (Field Research) There are others… There are others…

Two Types of Samples (Chap. 4) Non-Probability Samples Non-Probability Samples  Cannot generalize findings Probability Samples Probability Samples  Can generalize findings

Variables (Chap. 3) Independent Variable Independent Variable Dependent Variable Dependent Variable

Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables Kids who have a delinquent record are more likely to come from single parent homes Kids who have a delinquent record are more likely to come from single parent homes Women are more likely than men to cheat in a marriage relationship Women are more likely than men to cheat in a marriage relationship Rebellious kids are more likely to listen to at least one of the following musical styles: hip-hop, heavy metal, industrial, and/or goth Rebellious kids are more likely to listen to at least one of the following musical styles: hip-hop, heavy metal, industrial, and/or goth Freshman students who join fraternities or sororities will adjust easier to college life than those who live in dorms Freshman students who join fraternities or sororities will adjust easier to college life than those who live in dorms Lawyers are more likely to commit murder than accountants Lawyers are more likely to commit murder than accountants

4 Levels of Measurement (Chapter 3) Qualitative Qualitative 1. Nominal (Categorical) Quantiative Quantiative 2. Ordinal 3. Interval 4. Ratio

Three Criteria For Determining Causation (Chap. 5) Correlation (association) Correlation (association) Time Order Time Order Non-Spuriousness Non-Spuriousness

Correlation Positive Positive Negative Negative None None

Correlation Of Variables As Depression Increases, Suicide Increases DepressionSuicide Rate A. Positive Correlation #1 Social Integration Suicide Rate C. Negative Correlation #1 As Social Integration Decreases Suicide Increases B. Positive Correlation #2 As depression decreases, suicide decreases DepressionSuicide Rate D. Negative Correlation #2 As social integration increases suicide decreases Social Integration Suicide Rate

As income increases crime decreases As income increases crime decreases Religiosity decreases with income Religiosity decreases with income Political conservatism increases with religiosity Political conservatism increases with religiosity Individuals with large noses have a better sense of smell than individuals with smaller noses Individuals with large noses have a better sense of smell than individuals with smaller noses Pipe smokers are more likely to live longer than non- smokers Pipe smokers are more likely to live longer than non- smokers The faster one drives the greater the risk of getting into an accident The faster one drives the greater the risk of getting into an accident Athletes will score higher on the history 101 exam than non-athletes Athletes will score higher on the history 101 exam than non-athletes

Reliability & Validity (Chaps. 1, 3 & 5) Reliability (are we consistent?) Reliability (are we consistent?) Validity (are our statements and/or conclusions about reality correct based on our research?) Validity (are our statements and/or conclusions about reality correct based on our research?)  Measurement validity  (did we accurately measure what we set out to measure?)  External Validity (aka cross-population generalizability)  When findings about one group, population or setting hold true for other groups, populations or settings  Causal (internal) Validity  The truthfulness of an assertion that A causes B

11 Steps in Qualitative (Inductive) Research Step 1: Choose a topic Step 1: Choose a topic  Gender Step 2: Narrow the focus Step 2: Narrow the focus  Gender and scrapbooking Step 3: Conduct a literature review Step 3: Conduct a literature review  Use J-Stor and SocIndex to start Step 4: Formulate a research question Step 4: Formulate a research question  e.g. what functions does scrapbooking serve in the lives of women scrappers? Step 5: Operationalize your variables Step 5: Operationalize your variables Step 6: Set up a research design Step 6: Set up a research design  Choose a method (e.g. interviews)  Identify the population and determine how the sample will be chosen Step 7: Write up a research proposal to receive funding Step 7: Write up a research proposal to receive funding Step 8: Gather data Step 8: Gather data Step 9: Code and analyze the data (HyperResearch) Step 9: Code and analyze the data (HyperResearch) Step 10: Develop (induce) a theory to account for the data Step 10: Develop (induce) a theory to account for the data Step 11: Write up and present the results Step 11: Write up and present the results

12 Steps in Quantitative (Deductive) Research Step 1: Choose a topic Step 1: Choose a topic  Crime: Stealing Step 2: Narrow the focus Step 2: Narrow the focus  The role of religion on stealing Step 3: Conduct a literature review Step 3: Conduct a literature review  Use J-Stor and SocIndex to start Step 4: Develop a theory to test Step 4: Develop a theory to test Step 5: Formulate a research question from your theory Step 5: Formulate a research question from your theory  e.g. Does church attendance have an effect on stealing? Step 6: Formulate a hypothesis from your research question Step 6: Formulate a hypothesis from your research question  People who attend church are less likely to steal  Identify dependent and independent variables

Step 7: Operationalize and conceptualize your variables Step 7: Operationalize and conceptualize your variables Step 8: Set up a research design Step 8: Set up a research design  Choose a method (e.g. surveys)  Identify the population and determine how the sample will be chosen Step 9: Write up a research proposal to receive funding Step 9: Write up a research proposal to receive funding Step 10: Gather data to test hypothesis (use one or more methods) Step 10: Gather data to test hypothesis (use one or more methods) Step 11: Code and analyze the data (SPSS) Step 11: Code and analyze the data (SPSS) Step 12: Write up and present the results Step 12: Write up and present the results

Research Proposal Sections Title Page Title Page Summary Sheet Summary Sheet Abstract Abstract Introduction Introduction Literature Review Literature Review Methods Methods Conclusions Conclusions Schedule and Budget Schedule and Budget Bibliography Bibliography Appendices Appendices

Paper Sections Title Page Title Page Abstract Abstract Introduction Introduction Literature Review Literature Review Methods Methods Results Results Discussion & Conclusion Discussion & Conclusion Indices Indices Bibliography Bibliography

Literature Reviews The purpose The purpose  To show others that you have read the research relevant to your study  To link your research to previous research  To show problems in previous research An example…. An example….  RQ: Is there a link between playing chess and academic achievement?  Start your search narrow and end up with broad categories  Literature on chess and academic achievement  Literature on other games and academic achievement  Literature on things like games (e.g. sports, race, gender, etc. and academic achievement)  Literature on chess  Literature on academic achievement