1. A Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e
SOCIOLOGY
A Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e
James M. Henslin
Chapter Five:
How Sociologists Do Research
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2. What is a Valid Sociological Topic?
Macro - Broad Matters
Micro - Individualistic Matters
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3. Common Sense and the Need for Research
What Everyone Knows May Not Be True
Move Beyond Guesswork
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4. A Research Model Selecting a Topic Defining a Problem
Reviewing the Literature
Formulating a Hypothesis
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5. A Research Model Choosing a Research Method Collecting Data
Analyzing Results
Sharing Results
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7. Research Methods Surveys Selecting a Sample Asking Neutral Questions
Random Sample
Stratified Random Sample
Asking Neutral Questions
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8. Research Methods Questionnaires Self-Administered
Allow the Largest Sample
Low Cost
Loss of Researcher Control
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9. Research Methods Interviews Structured Interviews Establishing Rapport
More Researcher Control
Time Consuming
Interviewer Bias
Structured Interviews
Open-Ended Questions
Establishing Rapport
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10. Research Methods Participant Observation (Fieldwork)
Researcher Participates
Problems with Generalizability
Done for Exploratory Work
Generates Hypotheses
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11. Research Methods Secondary Analysis Analyze Data Collected by Others
Researcher Cannot Be Sure of Data Quality
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12. Research Methods Documents Examine Books, Newspapers, Diaries, etc.
Limited Scope
Cannot Study Topic Unless Access is Granted
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13. Research Methods Experiments Experimental Group Control Group
Independent Variables
Dependent Variables
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15. Research Methods Unobtrusive Measures
Observe People Without Them Knowing
Question of Ethics
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16. Deciding Which Method to Use
Available Resources
Access to Subjects
Purpose of Research
Researcher’s Background and Training
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17. Deciding Which Method to Use
Quantitative Research Methods
Emphasis on Precise Measurement
Uses Statistics and Numbers
Qualitative Research Methods
Emphasis on Observing, Describing, and Interpreting Behavior
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18. Gender in Sociological Research
Affects Orientation and Attitudes
Interviewer Bias
Women and Men Lead Different Lives
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19. Ethics in Sociological Research
Openness, Honesty, and Truthfulness
Forbids Falsifying Results
Condemns Plagiarism
Subjects’ Informed Consent
Subjects’ Anonymity
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20. Ethics in Sociological Research
Protecting Subjects: The Brajuha Research
Misleading Subjects: The Humphreys Research
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21. How Research and Theory Work Together
Neither Research nor Theory can Stand Alone
Theories Must Be Tested
Findings Must be Explained with Theory
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