Emile Durkeim
related suicide to the issue cohesiveness in society,
documented his contention that a high suicide rate was symptomatic of large-scale societal problems, his approach to research still influences researchers
Debunking
challenging ideas or opinions, with the intent of revealing false claims.
normative approach
uses religion, law, customs, and traditions to answer important questions
Based on norms
empiracal
Backed up by scientific method, experience, evidence, numbers, statistics
Experience, Evidence
Systematic collection and analysis
Referred to as a scientific method, and is based on the assumption that knowledge is gained by direct, systematic observation
Scientific method is Based on the assumption that knowledge is best gained by what?
Direct observation, systematic observation, the support of good evidence and the possibility for public debate.
The scientific method is based on the assumption that knowledge is best gained by:
A) direct observation
B) systematic observation
C) the support of good evidence
D) the possibility for public debate
E) all of these choices
E
Descriptive studies
Attempt to describe social reality or provide facts about some group, practice, or event
Think: Data, what is happening? (Not Why is it happening)
Explanatory Studies
Attempt to explain cause and effect relationships and to provide information on why certain events do or do not occur
Think: Why is this happening? (not What is happening)
Theory
Is a set of logically interrelated statements that attempts to describe, explain, and (occasionally) predict social events
deductive approach
is the researcher begins with a theory and uses research to test the theory
deductive approach
leads us to be able to test the hypotheses with specific data -a confirmation (or not) of our original theories
Inductive approach
The researcher collects information or data (facts or evidence) and then generates theories from the analysis of that data.
Inductive reasoning
by its very nature, is more open-ended and explanatory, spurred by curiosity
deductive reasoning
is more narrow in nature and is concerned with testing or confirming hypotheses
research
is the process of systematically collecting information for the purpose of testing an existing theory or generating a new one
The ___________ approach begins with a theory and uses research to test the theory
a) inductive
b) deductive
c) quantitative
d) qualitative
b
quantitative Research
focuses on data that can be measured numerically
Think: Quantitative - Quality - Numbers
Quantitative methods
are concerned with attempts to quantify social wonders and collect and analyze numerical data and focuses on the links among a smaller number of aspects across many cases
Common tools of quantitative
researchers include surveys, questionnaires, and secondary analysis of statistical data that has been gathered for other purposes (for example, censuses or the results of social attitudes surveys
qualitative research
focuses on interpretive description rather than statistics to analyze underlying meanings and patterns of social relationships
personal experiences and interpretation (not numbers), more concerned with understanding the meaning of social phenomena and foc
Qualitative methods
emphasize personal experiences and interpretation over quantification, are more concerned with understanding the meaning of social phenomena and focus on like among a larger number of aspects across relatively few cases
While qualitative and quantitative are very different in many aspects what do they both do?
They both involve a systematic interaction between theories and data
social research
involves the interaction between ideas and evidence
With __________ research, interpretative description (words) rather than statistics (numbers) are used to analyze underlying meanings and patterns of social relationships.
a) inductive
b) deductive
c) quantitative
d) qualitative
d
Hypothesis
a statement of the relationship between two or more concepts
If-Then statements
indepent variable
is presumed to cause or determine a dependent variable
COMES FIRST
Is responsible for changes in the Dependent
dependent variable
is assumed to depend on or be caused by the independent variable
Dependent depends on independent
Independent/dependent
It takes an independent person to be able to take care of a dependent
random sampling
every member of an entire population being studied has the same chance of being selected
probability sampling
participants are deliberately chosen because they have specific characteristics, possibly including such factors as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment
Validity
is the extent to which a study or research instrument accurately measures what it is supposed to measure
Reliability
is the extent to which a study or research instrument yields consistent results when applied to different individuals at one time or to the same individuals over time
In a medical study, lung cancer could be the ________ variable, while smoking could be the _____________ variable.
a) dependent, independent
b) independent, dependent
c) valid, reliable
d) reliable, valid
A
In the book Suicide, Emile Durkheim used the ________ as the independent variable, the rate of suicide
a) degree of social integration in society
b) proportion of mental illness in society
c) degree of the spread of hysteria in the late 19th century
d) de
A
Qualitative Research Methods
-Researcher begins with a general approach rather than a high detailed plan
-Researcher has to decide when the literature review and theory application should take place
-The study presents a detailed view of the topic
-access to people or other resources
Research methods: Survey Research
-describes a population without interviewing each individual
-standardized questions force respondents into categories
-relies on self-reported information, an some people may not be truthful
Research methods: Analysis of Existing Data
Materials studied may include:
-books, diaries, poems, and graffiti
-movies, television shows, advertisements, greeting card
-music, art, and even garbage
Research Methods: Field Research
-the study of social life in its natural setting
-observing and interviewing people where they live, work, and play
-generates observations that are best described verbally rather than numerically
Participant observation
-Collecting observations while part of the activities of the group being studied
-Non-participant - don't join in with the activities and may or may not know they are being observed
Think: Participating in the study
Ethnography
-Detailed study of the life and activities of a group of people over a period of years
Think: Ethnic - features of a particular group (possibly a particular Ethnic group)
Case studies
-An in-depth, multifaceted investigation of a single event, person, or social grouping. - Investigates all aspects of the person/phenomenon
-A case study involves multiple cases
Unstructured interview
is an extended, open-ended interaction between an interviewer and an interviewee. Rather than a limited, prescribed set of questions, the interview can flow naturally
Grounded Theory
Researchers who use this collect and analyze data simultaneously
Research Methods: Experiments
-study the impact of certain variables on subjects' attitudes or behavior
-designed to create "real-life" situations
-used to demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between variables
Experiments (laboratory, Field, Natural) strengths
-control over research
-ability to isolate experimental factors
-little time and money required
-Replication possible, except for natural experiments
Experiments (laboratory, Field, Natural) weaknesses
-artificial reliance on volunteers or captive audiences
-ethical questions of deception
Survey Research (Questionnaire, interview, telephone survey) strengths
-useful in describing features of a large population without interviewing everyone
-Relatively large samples possible
-Multivariate analysis possible
Survey Research (Questionnaire, interview, telephone survey) weaknesses
-potentially forced answers
-respondent untruthfulness on emotional issues
-data that are not always "hard facts" presented such as statistical analyses
Secondary Analysis of Existing Data (Existing statistics, Content Analysis) strengths
-data readily available
-inexpensive to collect
-longitudinal and comparative studies
-replication possible
Secondary Analysis of Existing Data (Existing statistics, Content Analysis) weaknesses
-difficult to determine accuracy of data
-failure of data gathered by others to meet goals of current research
-questions of privacy when using diaries, other personal documents
Field Research (participant observation, case study, ethnography, unstructured Interview) strengths
-gain insiders view
-useful for studying behaviors in natural settings
-longitudinal studies possible
-documentation of social problems of groups possible
-forum for previously excluded groups
Field Research (participant observation, case study, ethnography, unstructured Interview) weaknesses
-problems generalizing results
-nonprecise data measurements
-inability to test theories
-difficult to make comparisons
-not representative
Triangulation
is the term used to describe the approach of combining multiple methods in a given study.
it refers not only to research methods but also to multiple data sources, investigators, and theoretical perspectives in a study
Multiple data sources include person
Hawthorne effect
refers to the tendency of some people to work harder and perform better when they are participants in and experiment
The unmasking of fallacies in the everyday and official interpretations of society is called:
a) defrauding
b) defeating
c) debunking
d) devaluing
C
The approach where the researcher collects information or data and then generates theories from analysis of the data is called:
a) inductive
b) deductive
c) quantitative
d) qualitative
A
With __________ research, the goal is scientific objectivity, and the focus is on data that can be measured numerically.
a) inductive
b) deductive
c) quantitative
d) qualitative
C
___________ exists when two variable are associated more frequently than could be expected by chance
a) multiple causation
b) regression relation
c) correlation
d) spurious relation
C
Reliability is the extent to which a study or research instrument
a) measures the phenomenon it is intended to measure
b) yield consistent results
c) approximates a true experiment
d) relies on other variables to preserve validity
B
Validity is the extent to which a study or research instrument:
a) accurately measures what it is supposed to measure
b) yields consistent results
c) approximates a true experiment
d) relies on other variables to preserve validity
A