Research Methods
You need to write this down. The state
of Texas says we need to review the
science-y stuff before we can have any
fun.
Surveys: Just ask people!
• Advantages: Researchers can gather
information from large numbers of people
• Disadvantages:
• 1. People may be wrong.
• 2.People may want to change the outcome.
• 3. People lie.
Testing
• Convenient
• Measures specific aspects
• Does not always provide a complete
representation of an individual.
Case Studies
• Provides insight into specific cases
• May focus on isolated circumstances or events
that cannot be replicated.
• People interviewed may distort their past
experience
Longitudinal Studies
• Follows one group of participants over a long
period of time.
• Time consuming and expensive
• Participants may not be available for
the entire study.
Cross-Sectional Method
• Comparing differences and similarities among
different groups at the same time.
• Differences between the groups may not be
attributed to age or development.
Naturalistic Observation
• Observing people or animals in their natural
habitat
• Researchers have no control over the setting
or events that occur
Laboratory Observation
• Enables researchers to precisely control
certain aspects of the study.
• Laboratories cannot duplicate real-life
settings.
Causation vs Correlation
• It is important to remember that Correlation
does not necessarily mean Causation.
• When I give you a quiz, and it starts to rain
right at the same time, does it mean that the
quiz caused the rain?
– Or, does it mean that whenever it rains, Mrs. Rush
will give you a quiz?
FINISHED
• Now. In your groups from yesterday, you will
go through the textbook Table of Contents,
and make a list of what you want to learn
from each chapter, from Chapter 3 through
Chapter 19.
• We will learn at least 2 sections from each
chapter. Some are mandatory.
• Chapters 20 and 21 will be covered in
Sociology.