Welcome To Sociological Research
Methods
Chuck Brown, Ph.D.
Albright College
Sociological Research Methods
Chapters 1 & 2
(and then some)
Three Types of Research (Chap. 2)
Quantitative (Deductive)
 You start with a theory, and then collect
data to test the theory
 Qualitative (Inductive)
 You collect data and then develop
(induce) a theory that explains the data
you collected
 Descriptive (Can be either quantitative or
qualitative)
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4 Categories for Research (Chap.
1)
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Descriptive
 E.g. Who is homeless, how many are there?
Exploratory
 E.g. What is it like to be homeless?
Explanatory
 What causes homelessness?
Evaluative
 Did the new state initiative to curb
homelessness work?
Three Methods of Research (Chaps.
6, 7 & 9)
Surveys
 Interviews
 Participant Observation (Field Research)
 There are others…
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Two Types of Samples (Chap. 5)
Non-Probability Samples
 Cannot generalize findings
 Probability Samples
 Can generalize findings
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Variables (Chap. 2)
Independent Variable
 Dependent Variable
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Identifying Independent and
Dependent Variables
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Kids who have a delinquent record are more likely to come
from single parent homes
Women are more likely than men to cheat in a marriage
relationship
Rebellious kids are more likely to listen to at least one of
the following musical styles: hip-hop, heavy metal,
industrial, and/or goth
Freshman students who join fraternities or sororities will
adjust easier to college life than those who live in dorms
Lawyers are more likely to commit murder than
accountants
4 Levels of Measurement (Chapter 4)
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Qualitative
1.
Nominal (Categorical)
Quantiative
2.
Ordinal
3.
Interval
4.
Ratio
Three Criteria For Determining
Causation (Chap. 6)
Correlation (association)
 Time Order
 Non-Spuriousness

Correlation
Positive
 Negative
 None
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Correlation Of Variables
A. Positive Correlation #1
Depression
Suicide
Rate
B. Positive Correlation #2
Depression
Suicide
Rate
As Depression Increases, Suicide Increases As depression decreases, suicide decreases
C. Negative Correlation #1
Social
Integration
Suicide
Rate
As Social Integration Decreases
Suicide Increases
D. Negative Correlation #2
Social
Integration
Suicide
Rate
As social integration increases suicide
decreases
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As income increases crime decreases
Religiosity decreases with income
Political conservatism increases with religiosity
Individuals with large noses have a better sense of smell
than individuals with smaller noses
Pipe smokers are more likely to live longer than nonsmokers
The faster one drives the greater the risk of getting into
an accident
Athletes will score higher on the history 101 exam than
non-athletes
Reliability & Validity (Chap. 4)
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Reliability (are we consistent?)
Validity (are our statements and/or conclusions about reality
correct based on our research?)
 Measurement validity
 (did we accurately measure what we set out to
measure?)
 External Validity (aka cross-population generalizability)
 When findings about one group, population or setting
hold true for other groups, populations or settings
 Causal (internal) Validity
 The truthfulness of an assertion that A causes B
11 Steps in Qualitative (Inductive)
Research
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Step 1: Choose a topic

Gender
Step 2: Narrow the focus
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Gender and scrapbooking
Step 3: Conduct a literature review
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Use J-Stor and SocIndex to start
Step 4: Formulate a research question
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e.g. what functions does scrapbooking serve in the lives of women scrappers?
Step 5: Operationalize your variables
Step 6: Set up a research design
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Choose a method (e.g. interviews)
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Identify the population and determine how the sample will be chosen
Step 7: Write up a research proposal to receive funding
Step 8: Gather data
Step 9: Code and analyze the data (HyperResearch)
Step 10: Develop (induce) a theory to account for the data
Step 11: Write up and present the results
12 Steps in Quantitative (Deductive)
Research
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Step 1: Choose a topic
 Crime: Stealing
Step 2: Narrow the focus
 The role of religion on stealing
Step 3: Conduct a literature review
 Use J-Stor and SocIndex to start
Step 4: Develop a theory to test
Step 5: Formulate a research question from your theory
 e.g. Does church attendance have an effect on stealing?
Step 6: Formulate a hypothesis from your research
question
 People who attend church are less likely to steal
 Identify dependent and independent variables
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Step 7: Operationalize and conceptualize your
variables
Step 8: Set up a research design
 Choose a method (e.g. surveys)
 Identify the population and determine how
the sample will be chosen
Step 9: Write up a research proposal to receive
funding
Step 10: Gather data to test hypothesis (use one
or more methods)
Step 11: Code and analyze the data (SPSS)
Step 12: Write up and present the results
Research Proposal Sections
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Title Page
Summary Sheet
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Methods
Conclusions
Schedule and Budget
Bibliography
Appendices
Paper Sections
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Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Methods
Results
Discussion & Conclusion
Indices
Bibliography
Literature Reviews
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The purpose
 To show others that you have read the research relevant to
your study
 To link your research to previous research
 To show problems in previous research
An example….
 RQ: Is there a link between playing chess and academic
achievement?
 Start your search narrow and end up with broad categories
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Literature on chess and academic achievement
Literature on other games and academic achievement
Literature on things like games (e.g. sports, race, gender,
etc. and academic achievement)
Literature on chess
Literature on academic achievement