Research Methods in Sociology

A. Sociology as a Science Criticism of Marxists: political agenda, subjective thinking (philosophy instead of rigorous Durkheim-style data collection), caution is needed understand the meaning behind their work Subjective versus Objective Knowledge: Empirical Research means that the unit under observation must be observable, measurable, and testable. Example of Religion: As a science, sociology cannot prove or disprove the existence of God, but it can analyze the opinions, beliefs, and behaviors of people who adhere to different religions.

B. Goals of Sociological Research Description Exploration Explanation Prediction Control

C. Challenges Biases: When the subject resembles or fails to resemble the observer Ethical Considerations (for example the responsibility to notify the proper authorities upon the discovery of an impending crime) Subjects tend to respond to observation: – Hawthorne Effect: response is what the observer wants to hear – Story of Elton MAYO ( ) and his research at the General Electric Company that gave birth to the Human Relations Movement: “Individual workers cannot be treated in isolation but must be seen as members of a group.” – From The Human Problems of an Industrialized Civilization (1933)

D. Measurement The relationship between variables Reliability: Is your observation a “fluke” or is it a repeatable social phenomenon? Validity:Are you really measuring what you want to measure?

E. Understanding Correlations Negative Correlation: – Social integration and the likelihood of committing suicide (Suicide, DURKHEIM, 1897) Positive Correlation: – Increased usage of drugs and the risk of homelessness – Decrease of available positions on the employment market and the purchase of new homes

Research Methods Theory versus hypothesis Population Sample Surveys Face to face interviews (directed versus semi-directed) interviews Observing behavior in a natural setting and explaining observations in anecdotes

Statistical Analysis Interpreting charts Inputting data from a table to create a pie or bar chart Mode (the most frequently repeated number) Median Average (mean)