Chapter 2Chapter 2

Sociological ResearchSociological Research

Chapter 2 resources for the bChapter 2 resources for the bookook

Scientific MethodScientific Method Organized steps to ensure Organized steps to ensure

“maximum” objectivity“maximum” objectivity 5 basic steps:5 basic steps: 1. Define the problem1. Define the problem 2. Review the literature2. Review the literature 3. Formulate a hypothesis3. Formulate a hypothesis 4. select a research design4. select a research design 5. Develop a conclusion5. Develop a conclusion> defining the problemdefining the problem:: make an operational make an operational

definition-explanation of an definition-explanation of an abstract concept that allows a abstract concept that allows a researcher to measure itresearcher to measure it

links to research donelinks to research done

Scientific MethodScientific Method <Eg.-status-high status-<Eg.-status-high status-

members of an exclusive members of an exclusive social club or professional social club or professional organizationorganization

come up with an operational come up with an operational definition for definition for lovelove..

Reviewing the literatureReviewing the literature 1. Refine problem under 1. Refine problem under

studystudy 2. Clarify possible techniques2. Clarify possible techniques 3. Avoid mistakes3. Avoid mistakes review popular magazines as review popular magazines as

well as systematic studieswell as systematic studies formulate a hypothesisformulate a hypothesis

Scientific MethodScientific Method Eg-Most Homeless are not Eg-Most Homeless are not

mentally ill.mentally ill. What are we looking for in What are we looking for in

our research?our research? 1. Is it testable? Eg. “God 1. Is it testable? Eg. “God

exists”exists” 2. Is it reasonably specific?2. Is it reasonably specific? 3. How one aspect effects 3. How one aspect effects

another?another? Aspects are called variables-Aspects are called variables-

trait or characteristic subject trait or characteristic subject to changeto change

income, religion, occupation, income, religion, occupation, gendergender

Scientific MethodScientific Method Eg. Most homeless are not Eg. Most homeless are not

mentally ill.mentally ill. mental illness-independent variablemental illness-independent variable homeless-dependent variablehomeless-dependent variable 1st variable-independent1st variable-independent 2nd variable-dependent2nd variable-dependent Causal Logic-Black Panther Causal Logic-Black Panther

Bumper sticker leads to a traffic Bumper sticker leads to a traffic ticketticket

results of Black Panther experimenresults of Black Panther experimentt

Correlation-change in variable Correlation-change in variable coincides with the other-coincides with the other-

working mothers leads to working mothers leads to delinquency in children-What is the delinquency in children-What is the third variable?third variable?

Lower class-this statement is Lower class-this statement is correlated not causalcorrelated not causal

Scientific MethodScientific Method Collect and Analyze data-Collect and Analyze data- representative sample-larger population that is typicalrepresentative sample-larger population that is typical random sample-every member has same chance to be random sample-every member has same chance to be

sampledsampled Creating Scales and indicesCreating Scales and indices-- questions to measure attitudesquestions to measure attitudes needs to be valid and reliableneeds to be valid and reliable valid-degree of reflection of studyvalid-degree of reflection of study reliable-consistent resultsreliable-consistent results Develop a conclusionDevelop a conclusion:: terminates this study and generates ideas for the futureterminates this study and generates ideas for the future

Creating a Research Creating a Research DesignDesign

Surveys-a study, generally Surveys-a study, generally in the form of an interview in the form of an interview or questionnaire, provides or questionnaire, provides Sociologists with Sociologists with information concerning information concerning how people act and thinkhow people act and think

Questioning techniques-Questioning techniques- Wording of questioningWording of questioning 1. Make them simple and 1. Make them simple and

clear-must understandclear-must understand 2. Be specific-no problem 2. Be specific-no problem

interpreting the resultsinterpreting the results

Research DesignResearch Design 2 forms of questioning-1. Interview; 2. Questionnaire2 forms of questioning-1. Interview; 2. Questionnaire interview-high response rate-go beyond the written questioninterview-high response rate-go beyond the written question questionnaire-cheaperquestionnaire-cheaper Eagleton at Rutgers survey found-Eagleton at Rutgers survey found- with abortion-women are more likely to be strong pro-choice with abortion-women are more likely to be strong pro-choice

when questioned by a womenwhen questioned by a women 84%-private matter left to women not government when 84%-private matter left to women not government when

interviewed by a womeninterviewed by a women 64%-when interviewed by a man64%-when interviewed by a man must be careful in all elements of surveymust be careful in all elements of survey

QuestioningQuestioningPoor question Problem Better Question

1. Do you favor urbanhomesteading?

May not understand the question Do you favor a governmentprogram that encourages familiesto improve inner city housing?

2. Did your mother ever work? misleading Did your mother ever work forpay outside the home?

3. Should it be possible for awomen to obtain a legal abortion?

too general Should it be possible for a womanto obtain a legal abortion if thereis a strong chance of serious birthdefect in her baby? If she becamepregnant because of rape?

4. Don’t you think that the pressis slanted and that we shoulddistrust whatever it says?

biased, leads people to aparticular answer

Would you say that you have agreat deal of confidence, someconfidence, or very littleconfidence in the press?

5. Do you favor making it legalfor 18 year olds to drink liquorand smoke marijuana?

double barreled, two questions inone

Do you favor making it legal for18 year olds to drink liquor? Doyou favor making it legal for 18year olds to smoke marajuana?

Ethics in ResearchEthics in Research Code of Ethics: American Code of Ethics: American

Sociological Association Sociological Association (ASA)(ASA)

1. Maintain objectivity and 1. Maintain objectivity and integrity in researchintegrity in research

2. Respect the subject’s right 2. Respect the subject’s right to privacy and dignityto privacy and dignity

3. Protect subjects from 3. Protect subjects from personal harmpersonal harm

4. Preserve confidentiality4. Preserve confidentiality 5. Acknowledge research 5. Acknowledge research

collaboration and assistancecollaboration and assistance 6. Disclose all sources of 6. Disclose all sources of

financial supportfinancial support

Ethics in ResearchEthics in Research People cause the problem-People cause the problem-

most measures include most measures include peoplepeople

study of Autocides-William study of Autocides-William Zellner’s study posed the Zellner’s study posed the question of the right to question of the right to know or the right to privacyknow or the right to privacy

Zellner-interviewed the Zellner-interviewed the friends, coworkers and friends, coworkers and family members to obtain family members to obtain informationinformation

they were told it was in an they were told it was in an effort to reduce these effort to reduce these accidentsaccidents

Ethics in ResearchEthics in Research Zellner wished to learn Zellner wished to learn

about the emotional about the emotional characteristics of the victimcharacteristics of the victim

no mention of autocide for no mention of autocide for fear that they would not fear that they would not meet with himmeet with him

single occupant crashes are single occupant crashes are suicides in about 12% of suicides in about 12% of the casesthe cases

Was Zellner’s research Was Zellner’s research unethical?unethical?

Was the deception justified Was the deception justified by the social value of his by the social value of his findings? findings?

Ethics in ResearchEthics in Research Preserving confidentiality-Preserving confidentiality- like journalists-Sociologists like journalists-Sociologists

are going to get questioned are going to get questioned by law enforcementby law enforcement

1984-Federal court decides 1984-Federal court decides that notes are confidentialthat notes are confidential

A graduate student A graduate student interviews coworkers interviews coworkers working at a restaurant.working at a restaurant.

A suspicious fire occurs-A suspicious fire occurs-police want his notespolice want his notes

US appeals court overturns US appeals court overturns decision to allow decision to allow confidentialityconfidentiality