SOCIOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN
RESEARCH AND THEORY

1.
Sociologists use the
scientific method to
examine society.
We assume:
There are
predictable social
relations in the
world
RESEARCH AND THEORY
2. Social situations will recur in certain
patterns
RESEARCH AND THEORY
3. Social situations have causes that can
be understood
theories

Theories are statements regarding how
and why facts are related to each other
and the connections between these facts.
theories

Theories are found at
each level of analysis
in the social world;
which theory a
sociologist uses to
study the social world
depends on the part
of the social world to
be studied
Deductive and Inductive
Reasoning

Like other scientists, sociologists conduct
their investigations using one of two main
lines of reasoning: deductive and inductive
reasoning
Deductive reasoning

Begins with broad general ideas or
theories of human social behavior and
from these ideas more specific patterns
are identified or “deduced” using logical
reasoning…..these educated guesses
(which still do not have data to support
them-are called HYPOTHESIS)
Inductive Reasoning


Begins with specific facts or evidence and
tries to find or develop a theory-a more
generalized set of concepts-to explain the
facts.
1st the researcher collects facts and then
attempts to explain the relationship
between the facts, building up to a
generalization, moving from concrete facts
to the abstract theory
Steps to doing research
1.
2.
3.
4.
Define a topic or problem that can be
investigated scientifically
Review relevant research and theory to
refine the topic and define variables
Formulate hypotheses or research
questions and operationalize variables
Design the research method that
specifies how the data will be gathered.
Steps to doing research
5.
6.
7.
8.
Select a sample of people or groups from the
population
Collect the data using appropriate research
methods
Analyze the data, figuring out exactly what the
study tells us about the question
Draw conclusions and present the final report
including suggestions for future research
Designing the Research Method


Survey method-used when sociologist
want to gather information directly from a
number of people regarding how they
think or feel or what they do
(ex: interviews and questionnaires)
Field studies



Also called observational methods are used
when systematic, planned observation of
interaction is needed to obtain data.
Observation can take 2 forms: detached or
nonparticipant observation and participant
observation
Ethnography is a form of field study that
involves self-reflection in research as the
research progresses.
Controlled experiments

Controlled experiments control all
variables except the one being studied;
requires an experimental group, in which
people are exposed to the variable being
studied in order to test its effect and a
control group in which the subjects are
not exposed to the variable the
experimenter wants to test.
Existing sources


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Involves use of materials that already exist
but are being employed in a new way or
to understand a different pattern
Secondary analysis
Content analysis