1. Sociology Chapter 2

2. Section 1Research Methods Goal is to test common sense assumptions and replace false ideas with facts and evidence Focus on why and how No actual laboratory to conduct research (need real life situations)

3. Quantitative research Numerical data –Surveys –Precollected data- ex: census –90 percent of their research is by survey

4. Survey research Good for studying a large number of people Two groups: population and sample –Population: Those with characteristics a researcher wants to study –Sample: is a limited number of cases drawn from the larger population

5. Sample Representative sample –Must have the same basic characteristics as the general population –How do you get a sample Randomization- unbiased

6. Gathering information Questionnaire Interview closed ended questions- Ex: multiple choice or scale Open ended questions- very difficult to analyze, opens the door for opinions and biased responses, Question might be interpreted incorrectly

7. Secondary analysis Using precollected information –The United States Census –US department of Labor –US department of Commerce

8. Qualitative research Use of narrative or descriptive data Field research –Looks closely at aspects of life that can not be measured with numbers and are best understood with in a natural setting –Use of obervation: ex “cliques” with in a school environment

9. Case study A thorough investigation of a single group, incident, or community Generalize this information to similar situations –Ex: a case study of gangs in New York city can be applied to other large cities –The researcher also needs to point out in his/her case study things that might be unique to that particular city

10. Participant observation The researcher becomes a member of the group being studied –EX: if a researcher is studying recovering alcoholics and decided to become part an AA group

11. Section 2 Causation in Science Events occur in predictable nonrandom ways Multiple causation –An event occurs as a result of several factors working in combination Ex WWI-powder keg

12. Variable Characteristic: age, gender, education, occupation etc. Variables can be quantitative or qualitative, independent or dependent Quantitative variable- numeric Qualitative variable- categories ex: male/female, yes/no, marital status etc

13. Variables Independent variable –A variable that causes something to occur Time spent studying for a test Dependent variable –The result from the change in the independent variable The final grade on the test

14. Intervening Variables Influence the relationship between an independent and dependent variable –Government intervention to help end a situation –Ex: program designed to end hunger

15. correlation Measure of how things are related to one another A correlation DOES NOT MEAN causation Can be positive or negative Positive –Longer time spent studying increase the grade Negative –Longer time spent watching TV the grade goes down

16. Standards for showing causation Open books to page 53

17. Section 3 procedures and Ethics in research Research procedures –Identify the problem –Review literature –Formulate hypothesis –Develop research design –Collect data –Analyze data –State findings and conclusion

18. Ethics in research Strict codes that must be followed when conducting research –Unfortunately not all research believe or follow these codes Nuremburg trials- 24 doctors convicted of conducting sadistic experiments on inmates 1932-1972 US intentionally did not treat 400 syphilitic Africans Americans so they could tract the evolution of the disease