Social Research Methods

Social Research Goal: Test common sense & peoples assumptions then replace with fact & evidence and make………… Definition: statement about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things in that group.

Social Research Where to we do research? The whole world is a sociologists lab!

Two Types : Quantitative: research that relies on numerical data Qualitative: research which uses observation and relies upon descriptive data

Methods:  Experiment: research that takes place in a lab setting (limited use in social research)  Field Research: research that takes place in a natural (non-lab) setting (primarily used in social research)

Methods:  Questionnaire: asking a sample population to respond to a to a series of closed-ended questions  Interview: asking of open-ended questions in order to gain required information  Survey: research method in which people respond to questions (most common method used in research)

Methods:  Secondary/Historical Analysis: reading and analyzing another persons data and r research on a topic  Case Study: in depth examination of a single group, problem, or community Longitudinal Study: type of case study that is conducted over a period of time. Cross-sectional Study: focus on data collected at a specific period of time.

Methods:  Participant Observation: research in which the researcher becomes involved with the group being studied  Natural Observation: research based on observation of people in any given environment (place)

Theoretical Perspectives: Theoretical Perspective: Research Method: Reasoning: Functionalist Theory Survey A questionnaire on violence in high schools is sent to a national, random sample of principals. The survey examines a possible relationship between incidence of school violence and family life. Conflict Theory Case Study A particular high school with high levels of fights is examined with respect to the relationship between fights at school and family life at home. Researchers interview principals, teachers, and students. Symbolic Interactionist Theory Participant Observation Concealing their identity, a researcher takes a temporary job at a high school with lots of fights at school. They attempt to observe a possible link between fights and family life.

The Social Research Method Step 1: Choose a Topic……AND……Ask a Question Example: Topic  Sport and School Behavior and Grades Question  What is the impact does playing a high school sport have on the behavior of student athletes in class?

The Social Research Method Step 2: Literature Review What does research that has already been done say about this topic? Example: I would read and review: American Sociological Association Journal Articles about Sports & School Books by authors who studied this topic previously Interviews from athletes (high school and college) Newspaper Articles about Sports and School

The Social Research Method Step 3: State your Hypothesis -What do I think will be my answer? Hypothesis= proposed explanation for a phenomenon. Example: Hypothesis  Students who play a high school sport will have better behavior in school versus those students who do not play a high school sport.

The Social Research Method Step 4: Develop your Research Plan 1.Choose your methods to collect data (3) 2.Create a timeline for your research 3.Choose your research population Example: Methods  Survey, Interview, Secondary Analysis (data) Timeline  I will conduct my research over a period of 2 weeks Population  I will research 50 student-athletes and 50 non-athletes grades 9-12 at SHS

The Social Research Method Step 5: Collect your Data Go out and perform your research! Variables: -Independent Variable= varied or manipulated by the researcher; the ‘cause’. -Dependent Variable= response that is measured; the ‘effect’. Variable  Playing a sport (Independent) will yield either good or bad behavior (Dependent)

The Social Research Method Step 6: Analyze your Data Analyze your data and look for the following: Patterns and Relationships Correlations and Causations Example: Patterns  A majority/few student athletes have good behavior in class. Relationship  Being a student-athlete causes better behavior in class (Direct Relationship) Correlation  I found a positive correlation between student- athletes and positive behavior

The Social Research Method Step 7: State your Conclusions What generalizations can be drawn from the results of your research? Was your hypothesis proven correct or incorrect? Example: Hypothesis  My hypothesis was proven to be correct Generalization  Students who play high school sports tend to behave better in class.

Examining Results -Causation= an outcome has been directly caused by a variable or factor.  Sociologists examine cause and effect by looking at the variables, or characteristics, involved.

Examining Results -Correlation= a change in one variable regularly associates with a change in another variable.

Caveat: When conducting research, either in a lab setting or in society, outcomes do not always match the intended results.