SOCIAL SCIENCE INQUIRY
THE INQUIRY MODEL:
1). IDENTIFY A PROBLEM OR QUESTION-THE STARTING POINT FOR ALL INQUIRY IS A QUESTION OR A
PROBLEM. A QUESTION/PROBLEM PROVIDES A REASON FOR UNDERTAKING THE INQUIRY AND HELPS TO
ESTABLISH A PLAN OF ACTION. FOR EXAMPLE, A SOCIAL SCIENTIST MIGHT BE WONDERING ABOUT THE INFLUENCE
OF VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES. HE/SHE WOULD FORMULATE A QUESTION: IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN VIOLENT VIDEO
GAMES AND YOUTH VIOLENCE?
2). DEVELOP A HYPOTHESIS-A HYPOTHESIS IS A POSSIBLE ANSWER TO A QUESTION AND A STARTING POINT
FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. A HYPOTHESIS INDICATES WHAT NEEDS TO BE TESTED AND WHICH RESEARCH
METHOD TO USE. THIS STEP IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE WITHOUT A GOOD HYPOTHESIS A RESEARCHER CAN WASTE A
LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY LOOKING FOR INFORMATION THAT MIGHT NOT BE RELEVANT TO THE TOPIC.
EX. THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND YOUTH VIOLENCE.
3). GATHER DATA-THE INQUIRER MUST THEN DETERMINE HOW TO GATHER DATA OR INFORMATION. THE
METHOD USED SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO THE QUESTION AND HYPOTHESIS. THERE ARE SEVERAL RESEARCH
METHODS THAT A RESEARCHER MIGHT USE INCLUDING CASE STUDIES, SAMPLE SURVEYS, EXPERIMENTS,
INTERVIEWS, OBSERVATIONS, ETC. RESEARCH METHODS CAN BE COMBINED-i.e. surveys + interviews.
4). ANALYZE THE DATA-COLLECTED DATA IS NOT MEANINGFUL UNLESS IT IS ORGANIZED, INTERPRETED AND
ANALYZED.
5). DRAW CONCLUSIONS-AFTER THE DATA HAS BEEN ANALYZED THE INQUIRER DETERMINES WHETHER THE
HYPOTHESIS IS SUPPORTED OR NOT. SHOULD THE HYPOTHESIS BE ACCEPTED, REJECTED, OR REVISED? PERHAPS
OUR RESEARCHER FOUND THAT THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES BUT ONLY AMOUNSTS
MALES OR ONLY WITH YOUTH OF A CERTAIN AGE.
ACTIVITIES
1).REARRANGE THE ORDER OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES SO THAT THEY FOLLOW THE MODEL OF INQUIRY:

THE DOCTOR GATHERED THE NOTES FROM HER OBSERVATIONS AND ADDED THEM TO THE TEST RESULTS
SHE HAD OBTAINED.

THE PATIENT WALKED INTO THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE COMPLAINING OF A FEVER AND LACK OF ENERGY.

THE DOCTOR CONCLUDED THAT THE PATIENT HAD THE FLU.

THE DOCTOR THOUGHT THE PATIENT MIGHT HAVE THE FLU THAT WAS GOING AROUND.

THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBED REST, ASPIRIN AND PLENTY OF LIQUIDS.

THE DOCTOR INSPECTED THE PATIENT’S EYES, NOSE AND EARS AND ORDERED SOME TESTS.
RESEARCH METHODS
THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF METHODS THAT CAN BE USED TO GATHER DATA.
THE METHOD(S) CHOSEN WILL DEPEND ON THE QUESTION OR PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE FIELD OF STUDY
(ANTHROPOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY).
CASE STUDIES
►A CASE STUDY IS THE OBSERVATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL, A SITUATION OR A GROUP OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
►RESEARCHERS FROM THE THREE DISCIPLINES MIGHT EMPLOY CASE STUDIES DIFFERENTLY.
►FOR EXAMPLE, AN ANTHROPOLOGIST MAY STUDY ONE CULTURE OR SUBCULTURE, A SOCIOLOGIST MAY
OBSERVE AND INTERVIEW THE STUDENTS OF ONE CLASS, AND A PSYCHOLOGIST MIGHT WORK WITH ONE
INDIVIDUAL IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND AND HELP THAT PERSON.
►WHY DO WE STUDY ONE EXAMPLE OR CASE? BY STUDYING ONE SITUATION IN DEPTH A LOT OF INFORMATION
CAN BE GATHERED AND HYPOTHESES ABOUT SIMILAR SITUATIONS CAN BE DEVELOPED.
►THIS MIGHT HELP US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHER INDIVIDUALS, SOCIAL GROUPS OR CULTURES.
EXPERIMENTS
►AN EXPERIMENT IS CONDUCTED WHEN A RESEARCHER IS TRYING TO DOSCOVER WHY
SOMETHING HAPPENS.
►THE ESSENCE OF AN EXPERIMENT IS TO DETERMINE HOW ONE FACTOR IS RELATED TO
ANOTHER-COULD ONE FACTOR BE CAUSED BY ANOTHER? WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE FACTOR IS
CHANGED? HOW DOES THIS CHANGE APPEAR TO AFFECT OTHER FACTORS?
►HAVE TO CONSIDER IF THE EXPERIMENT IS ETHICAL FOR
USE ON HUMANS i.e Tuskegee syphilis experiment
Process
1). Question or problem
2). Hypothesis
3). Plan an experiment that will test hypothesis
Establish sample groups and control group
Determine variables i.e. independent variable
vs. dependent variable
**independent variable is manipulated by researcher
**dependent variable is influenced by independent variable
4). Conduct experiment
5). Analyze results
6). Draw conclusions
SAMPLE SURVEYS
►A SURVEY IS A SYSTEMATIC METHOD OF RESEARCH USED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE
THOUGHTS/BEHAVIOUR OF A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
►SURVEYS TEND TO BE QUANTITATIVE RATHER QUALITATIVE.
►CALLED ‘SAMPLE’ BECAUSE RESEARCHERS OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM A SMALL GROUP AND THEN APPLY
THEIR FINDINGS TO THE REST OF THE POPULATION-THEY THEN DRAW CONCLUSIONS FOR THE ENTIRE GROUP.
►SAMPLE SURVEYS CAN BE CARRIED OUT THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS (in person, over the phone, by mail…) BUT
USUALLY TAKE THE FORM OF QUESTIONNAIRES.
►IN ORDER TO ASSURE THE RELIABILITY OF THESE SURVEYS, RESEARCHERS MUST ENSURE THAT THEY THEIR SAMPLE IS
LARGE ENOUGH AS WELL AS BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION.
►DATA CAN BE PROCESSED VERY QUICKLY.
►ONE DRAWBACK OF THIS RESEARCH METHOD IS THAT QUESTIONNAIRES DON’T USUALLY ALLOW RESPONDENTS
TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY THINK/FEEL THE WAY THEY DO.
STEPS:
1). Identify the purpose of the survey-(topic, information, what do you need to know/what would you like to
know)
2). Formulate questions-devise questions that will get the information you’re after (avoid those that don’t have
any relevance to topic)
3). Conduct survey using appropriate sample group.
4). Analyze Data-translate data into meaningful forms.
5). Draw conclusions-apply findings of survey to population.
INTERVIEWS
►ARE USED WHEN A RESEARCHER REQUIRES DETAILED INFORMATION FROM A FEW PEOPLE AND IS LOOKING FOR
EXPLANATIONS OR DESCRIPTIONS OF THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOUR.
►TAKE THE FORM OF A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE INTERVIEWER AND THE SUBJECT
**Can be conducted face-to-face, over the phone, or using a focus group.
Drawbacks to be aware of:
-Time consuming
-Researcher’s presence may introduce biased responses
Formulating/Asking Questions:
-Determine what kind information is needed before writing questions.
-Compose questions relevant to topic.
-Keep questions open-ended, unstructured.
-Only use a few well-written questions (no more than five)
-Memorize questions and their order.
-Be a good listener (ask for details, clarification, examples…)
-Make sure to record answers.
Interview Protocol
Project: (Name or topic of inquiry)
Date ___________________________
Time ___________________________
Location ________________________
Interviewer ______________________
Interviewee ______________________
Notes to interviewee:
-Thank them for participating
-Assure anonymity and confidentiality of responses
-Inform interviewee of the purpose of interview
-Indicate how long interview will take
Question 1:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Question 2:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
ETC…
OBSERVATION
►THIS METHOD ALLOWS RESEARCHERS TO LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE IN THEIR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. THIS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE ACT ‘LIKE THEMSELVES’ AND ARE THEREFORE UNLIKELY TO ALTER THEIR BEHAVIOUR.
►THERE ARE SEVERAL METHODS OF OBSERVATION:
UNSTRUCTURED OBSERVATION-OBSERVING WITHOUT A PREDETERMINED IDEA OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR. A
RESEARCHER MIGHT JUST SIT IN A PARK, CAFETERIA, OR WHEREVER AND WATCH WHAT GOES ON AROUND THEM.
THIS METHOD MAY PROVIDE THE RESEARCHER WITH NEW INSIGHTS, IDEAS, AND HYPOTHESES THAT CAN LEAD TO
FURTHER RESEARCH.
STRUCTURED OBSERVATION-THE RESEARCHER HAS ALREADY DETERMINED WHAT HE/SHE WILL LOOK FOR AND
WHAT INFORMATION TO RECORD. FREQUENTLY USES A CHECKLIST TO RECORD DATA. MIGHT USE A PARTICULAR
TYPE OF STRUCTURED ANALYSIS CALLED CONTENT ANALYSIS.
PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION-HERE THE RESEARCHER NOT ONLY OBSERVES THE GROUP FROM A DISTANCE BUT
ALSO LIVES AMONG THE PEOPLE AND TAKES PART THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE GOAL IS TO TRY AND SEE THINGS FROM
THEIR PERSPECTIVE. THIS WILL ALLOW THE RESEARCHER TO FORM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GROUP.
Process:
1). Begin with question/problem
2). Formulate hypothesis
3). Determine which type of observation is best suited to your particular inquiry (unstructured,
structured, participant).
4). Conduct observation and record data (checklist, notes…)
5). Analyze data
6). Draw conclusions
ANALYZING DATA
-ALL OF THE RESEARCH METHODS DISCUSSED THUS FAR WILL GENERATE DATA. HOWEVER,
RAW DATA, IN ITSELF, IS NOT USEFUL.
-IT MUST BE ORGANIZED AND ANALYZED INTO A FORMAT THAT WILL HELP TEST THE HYPOTHESIS
AND ANSWER THE QUESTION BEING ASKED.
-ANALYZING DATA IS A PROCESS THAT INVOLVES THREE STEPS:
1). DATA SHOULD BE SEPARATED INTO TWO CATEGORIES: RELEVANT AND IRRELEVANT
-SOME OF THE DATA COLLECTED MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY BEARING ON THE QUESTION OR
HYPOTHESIS.
-THIS DATA IS THEREFORE IRRELEVANT AND CAN BE DISCARDED. ONLY KEEP DATA THAT HAS A
DIRECT RELATION TO THE QUESTION OR HYPOTHESIS.
2). DATA SHOULD BE ORGANIZED IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT CLEAR
-UNORGANIZED DATA CAN BECOME A COLLECTION OF RANDOM FACTS AND FIGURES.
-ORGANIZE IT INTO A CLEAR FORMAT. Ex. Convert numbers into percentages, create a chart
or graph, etc.
3). DATA SHOULD BE ANALYZED IN TERMS OF HOW IT SUPPORTS, OR FAILS TO SUPPORT, THE
HYPOTHESIS
-ONCE THE DATA HAS BEEN ORGANIZED, THE RESEARCHER HAS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO
WHICH IT SUPPORTS THE HYPOTHESIS.
-THIS TYPICALLY INVOLVES DIVIDING UP THE DATA INTO CATEGORIES:
-INFORMATION THAT SUPPORTS HYPOTHESIS, INFORMATION THAT PROVIDES EVIDENCE THAT
GOES AGAINST HYPOTHESIS, AND INFORMATION THAT NEITHER SUPPORTS NOR NEGATES
HYPOTHESIS.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
A CONCLUSION IS AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION BEING ASKED. IT IS ALSO A STATEMENT OF
THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE HYPOTHESIS IS SUPPORTED. BASED ON THE HYPOTHESIS,
CONCLUSIONS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES:
1). EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THE HYPOTHESIS
2). THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THE HYPOTHESIS
3). THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS
4). THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS AN ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS
THERE ARE THREE GENERAL TESTS TO CHECK IF A SOCIAL SCIENCE STUDY HAS VALUE:
OBJECTIVITY, RELEVANCE, AND VALIDITY.
►TO BE OBJECTIVE, FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS SHOULD NOT BE TAINTED BY THE PERSONAL
OPINIONS OF THE RESEARCHER.
►TO BE RELEVANT, THE FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS MUST RELATE DIRECTLY TO THE
QUESTION/PROBLEM.
►TO BE VALID, ALL RESULTS MUST BE ACCURATE AND RELIABLE.
TWO IMPORTANT NOTES:
1). SOCIAL SCIENTISTS SHOULD NOT BE OVERLY CAUTIOUS WHEN CONSIDERING OR
PRESENTING WARRANTED OR REASONABLE CONCLUSIONS IF THOSE CONCLUSIONS WERE
PROPERLY OBTAINED.
2). SOCIAL SCIENTISTS SHOULD NEVER GO BEYOND WHAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE.