Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth
Approach 7/e
James M. Henslin
Chapter Five: How Sociologists
Do Research
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
What is a Valid Sociological Topic?

Macro—Broad Matters

Micro—Individualistic Matters
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Common Sense and the Need
for Research

What Everyone Knows May Not
Be True

Move Beyond Guesswork
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
A Research Model
1.
Selecting a Topic
2.
Defining a Problem
3.
Reviewing the Literature
4.
Formulating a Hypothesis
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
A Research Model
5.
Choosing a Research Method
6.
Collecting Data
7.
Analyzing Results
8.
Sharing Results
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods

Surveys


Selecting a Sample

Random Sample

Stratified Random Sample
Asking Neutral Questions
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods

Questionnaires

Self-Administered

Allow the Largest Sample

Low Cost

Loss of Researcher Control
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods


Interviews

More Researcher Control

Time Consuming

Interviewer Bias
Structured Interviews


Open-Ended Questions
Establishing Rapport
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods

Participant Observation (Fieldwork)

Researcher Participates

Problems with Generalizability

Done for Exploratory Work

Generates Hypotheses
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods

Secondary Analysis

Analyze Data Collected by Others

Researcher Cannot Be Sure of Data Quality
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods

Documents

Examine Books, Newspapers, Diaries, etc.

Limited Scope

Cannot Study Topic Unless Access is Granted
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods

Experiments

Experimental Group

Control Group

Independent Variables

Dependent Variables
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Research Methods

Unobtrusive Measures

Observe People Without Them Knowing

Question of Ethics
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Deciding Which Method to Use
 Available
 Access
Resources
to Subjects

Purpose of Research

Researcher’s Background and Training
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
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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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Gender in Sociological Research
 Affects Orientation and Attitudes

Interviewer Bias

Women and Men Lead Different Lives

In Past, Women’s Experiences Neglected
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Ethics in Sociological Research
 Openness, Honesty, and Truthfulness

Forbids Falsifying Results

Condemns Plagiarism

Subjects’ Informed Consent

Subjects’ Anonymity
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Ethics in Sociological Research

Protecting Subjects: The Brajuha Research

Misleading Subjects: The Humphreys Research
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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
How Research and Theory
Work Together
 Theory Helps Interpretation of Data

Theory Generates Questions for Research

Research Helps Generate Theory
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