Sociological Research
Methods
Issues of Interest
• What do sociologists
research?
• Structures and functions of various features in
society
• Rates of behavior
• Stability and change
Issues of Interest
• Goals of Sociological research:
• Describe
• Predict
• Explain
• “A social
scientist’s
work is
never done.”
Correlation vs. Causation
• Sociologists want to uncover the causal
connections between events
• Study cause/effect by examining
relationships between variables
– Independent Variable: variable that causes a
change in another variable
– Dependent Variable: variable that is changed
by the independent variable
Correlation vs Causation
• Example:
• In a study of teenage
drug use, sociologists
want to know what
factors impact drug
use. First they see if drug use is lower
among students who are on the honor roll.
• What is the IV?
• What is the DV?
Correlation vs Causation
• Student Response:
• Think of your own
sociological study:
What is the
independent
variable? The
dependent variable?
Causation vs Correlation
• 1st step in cause/effect is to see if there is a
correlation
• Correlation: when a change in one variable
is regularly associated with a change in
another
– Correlations may or may not be causal!
– Positive Correlation: both variables change in
the same direction
– Negative Correlation: variables change in
opposite directions
Correlation vs Causation
• Student Response:
• Think of an example of a positive
correlation
• Think of an example of a negative
correlation
Correlation vs Causation
• WARNING:
Correlation
does NOT
imply
causation!!
Correlation vs Causation
• For something to cause
something else 3 things
must be present:
– Correlation
– Time order
– Ruling out alternative explanations
The Research
Process
• Step 1:
• Define the problem
• Step 2:
• Review the literature
• Step 3:
• Form a hypothesis
The Research Process
• Step 4:
• Choose a research design
• Step 5:
• Collect the data
• Step 6:
• Analyze the data
• Step 7:
• Present the Conclusions
Research Methods:
Types of Research
• Quantitative:
• Focuses on data that can
be measured numerically
• Qualitative:
• Focuses on interpretive descriptions & direct
observations
Research Methods
• Survey Research:
• An interview,
questionnaire or
survey administered to a large group of
people
– Strengths: collect info from large # of people
in short amount of time
– Weaknesses: misinterpretation, lying, bias
Research Methods
• Experimental Research:
• Tests the way in which an independent
variable affects a dependent variable in a
controlled setting
– Strengths: can control IV’s
– Weaknesses: may not always be applicable
Research Methods
• Observational
Research:
• A direct observation of subjects’ reactions
• Detached: subjects not aware
• Participant Observation: researcher directly
involved
– Strengths: observe behavior in natural setting
– Weaknesses: Detached – miss details;
Participant – influence behavior
Research Methods
• Analysis of Existing
Sources:
• Historical Method: toys, clothes, diaries
• Content Analysis: count # of times word,
symbol, etc appears in a context
– Strengths: easy to use and inexpensive
– Weaknesses: may not provide enough info
Research Methods
• Case Study Research:
• Intensive analysis of a person, group, event
or problem
• May employ other methods to one focus
– Strengths: provides in-depth view
– Weaknesses: may lack generalizability
Research Ethics
Guidelines:
1. Do no harm
2. Informed Consent
3. Voluntary Participation (public place
exception)
4. Report all information accurately
5. No conflict of interest or dual relationships
with subjects