Stages in sociological
research
Quantitative and qualitative research methods
Sociological research has 4 main stages
CHOOSING A
RESEARCH TOPIC
COLLECTING
DATA
ANALYZING DATA
DRAWING A
CONCLUSION
The first step in the research
process is choosing a topic. We
can choose a topic based on a
theoretical interest that we have.
Choosing a
research
topic
Also, one can choose a topic based
on a social policy interest.
A third source of inspiration for
research topics is a personal
experience.
Collecting
data
After choosing a topic. We start collect data. Data
can be quantitative(numerical) or
qualitative(nonnumerical).Also data have 2 main
types:primary data and secondary data.
Primary data- is data collected for the first time by
researcher from the students.
Secondary data-it is data which has already been
collected by other researchers that is available in
different forms like books ,reports and other
sources.
Analyzing
data
After all, data have been collected, the next stage
is to analyze the data. The collected data is
analyzed to generate findings. Before analyzing
the data, it is prepared for analysis which involves
data editing. After preparing the data for analysis, it
is analysed using different techniques such as
quantitative and qualitative techniques.
Drawing a conclusion
Data analysis generates the findings of the study which
confirmed facts. Once the data are analyzed, the researcher
finally determines whether the data analysis supports the
hypothesis that has been tested, taking into account the criteria
of causality just discussed.
Quantitative and
Qualitative research
Sociological knowledge has a strong empirical core, meaning
that sociologists’ statements from research are based on
data or evidence. Sociologists employ a variety of research
methods that may follow the scientific method to evaluate
formal hypotheses, or be more humanistic and focus on
ways people themselves understand and describe their
social worlds. Sociological research follows established
ethical guidelines that protect participants and ensure
integrity in research.
Sociological research methods fall into broad categories of
quantitative and qualitative approaches, but studies
frequently use “mixed methods” incorporating both.
Quantitative methods include measurement by sample
surveys, statistical modeling, social networks, and
demography. Qualitative methods include interviews, focus
groups, observation, and textual analysis.
Independent, Dependent,
Intervening Variables
An intervening variable is something that impacts the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable. Usually, the
intervening variable is caused by the independent variable, and is itself a cause of the dependent variable.
A dependent variable is a variable whose variations depend on another variable—usually the independent variable.
For example, there is an observed positive correlation between level of education and level of income, such that people with higher
levels of education tend to earn higher levels of income. This observable trend, however, is not directly causal in nature. Occupation
serves as the intervening variable between the two, since education level (the independent variable) influences what kind of
occupation one will have (the dependent variable), and therefore how much money one will earn. In other words, more schooling
tends to mean a higher status job, which in turn tends to bring a higher income.
Thank you for
attention