Sociological research process2

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1. The Sociological Research The Sociological Research
ProcessProcess
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2. 22
Everyday knowledgeEveryday knowledge
Based on:Based on:

Personal experience;Personal experience;

Belief;Belief;

Socio-cultural environment (traditions, Socio-cultural environment (traditions,
cultural values, behavioral norms).cultural values, behavioral norms).
Not scientific, because:Not scientific, because:

Sample is limited;Sample is limited;

Thinking and memory are selective.Thinking and memory are selective.
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3. 33
Ideal type model paradigmIdeal type model paradigm
Sociological questions:Sociological questions:

FactualFactual

what happened?what happened?

ComparativeComparative

did this happen everywhere?did this happen everywhere?

DevelopmentalDevelopmental

has this happened over time?has this happened over time?

TheoreticalTheoretical

what underlies this phenomenon?what underlies this phenomenon?
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4. Stages of research processStages of research process
Define the problem
Review the literature
Formulate a hypothesis
Select a research design
Carry out the research
Interpret the results
Report the findings
Discussion
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5. HypothesesHypotheses

Simple descriptive (Simple descriptive (distribution of a distribution of a
variablevariable););

Correlation descriptive (Correlation descriptive (guess about the guess about the
simultaneous distributions of 2 or more simultaneous distributions of 2 or more
variablesvariables););

Causal (Causal (change in the value of one variable change in the value of one variable
causes a change in the value of another causes a change in the value of another
variablevariable) .) .
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6. Cause and effectCause and effect

Need to distinguish correlation from Need to distinguish correlation from
causation between causation between variablesvariables

Working out a causal Working out a causal mechanism mechanism (not just (not just
why but exactly how?)why but exactly how?)

Isolate Isolate independentindependent and and dependentdependent
variablesvariables

Hold some variables constant – using Hold some variables constant – using
‘‘controlscontrols’’

Need background information to identify Need background information to identify
correct mechanismcorrect mechanism
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7. The Sociological Research ProcessThe Sociological Research Process
There are 2 types of sociological research:There are 2 types of sociological research:
1)1)QuantitativeQuantitative – the goal of this research is – the goal of this research is
scientific objectivity, and the focus is on scientific objectivity, and the focus is on
data that can be measured numericallydata that can be measured numerically
2)2)QualitativeQualitative – the goal of this research is to – the goal of this research is to
provide provide interpretive descriptioninterpretive description (words) (words)
rather than statistics, and to analyze rather than statistics, and to analyze
underlying meanings and patterns of underlying meanings and patterns of
social relationshipssocial relationships
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8. Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research
Quantitative research consists of 6 stepsQuantitative research consists of 6 steps
1)1)Select and define the research problemSelect and define the research problem
– find a “gap” in your knowledge, and set out to – find a “gap” in your knowledge, and set out to
fill itfill it
2)2)Review previous researchReview previous research
– study previous research, refine your search, and – study previous research, refine your search, and
plan to avoid the same mistakesplan to avoid the same mistakes
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9. Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research
3)3)Formulate the hypothesisFormulate the hypothesis
– propose a statement linking two concepts (or – propose a statement linking two concepts (or
variables)variables)
For exampleFor example: : Concept #1 – underage drinkingConcept #1 – underage drinking
Concept #2 – teen fatalitiesConcept #2 – teen fatalities
Possible hypothesis:Possible hypothesis:

“Teens who use alcohol are more likely to “Teens who use alcohol are more likely to
die die before the age of 19 than teens before the age of 19 than teens
who do not.”who do not.”
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10. Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research
4)4)Develop the research designDevelop the research design
– – consider what (eg. marriage) or whom (eg. consider what (eg. marriage) or whom (eg.
Nova Scotians) who are going to studyNova Scotians) who are going to study
- pick a method to use (eg. Experiment, survey, - pick a method to use (eg. Experiment, survey,
field research, etc.)field research, etc.)
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11. Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research
5)5)Collect and analyze the dataCollect and analyze the data
– after you collect your data, ensure that it is – after you collect your data, ensure that it is
reliable (ie. It yielded consistent results) and valid reliable (ie. It yielded consistent results) and valid
(ie. it accurately measured what you set out to (ie. it accurately measured what you set out to
measuremeasure
For exampleFor example: :
If you write an IQ test, it will usually yield a If you write an IQ test, it will usually yield a
consistent result (reliability), but it may not consistent result (reliability), but it may not
necessarily be an accurate measure of necessarily be an accurate measure of
your intelligence (validity)your intelligence (validity)
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12. Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research
6)6)Draw conclusions and report your findingsDraw conclusions and report your findings
– state what you discovered and what problems – state what you discovered and what problems
you encounteredyou encountered
For exampleFor example: :
““This research concludes that teens who use This research concludes that teens who use
alcohol are in fact more likely to die alcohol are in fact more likely to die
before before the age of 19 than teens who do the age of 19 than teens who do
not.”not.”
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13. QuantitativeQuantitative methodology methodology
DeductionDeduction
Theory
Hypotheses and questions deriving from the theory
Operationalization of theoretical concepts and variables
Instrument is used to measure variables
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14. Qualitative ResearchQualitative Research
Qualitative research is more likely to be used Qualitative research is more likely to be used
when the research question does not easily lend when the research question does not easily lend
itself itself
to numbers and statistics. to numbers and statistics.
11
stst
step) step) Problem formationProblem formation
– clarify your research question– clarify your research question
22
ndnd
step) step)collect and analyze your datacollect and analyze your data
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15. Qualitative ResearchQualitative Research
There are 3 unique features to qualitative research: There are 3 unique features to qualitative research:
A)A)The researcher begins with a flexible, general The researcher begins with a flexible, general
approach rather than a highly detailed plan approach rather than a highly detailed plan
B)B)The researcher has to decide when the literature The researcher has to decide when the literature
review and theory application should take placereview and theory application should take place
C)C)The study presents a detailed view of the topic The study presents a detailed view of the topic
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16. Qualitative methodologyQualitative methodology

Symbolic interactionism;Symbolic interactionism;

Verstehen Verstehen method;method;

Goffman’s dramaturgy;Goffman’s dramaturgy;

Garfinkel’s enthnomethodology.Garfinkel’s enthnomethodology.
““If men define situations as real, they are real If men define situations as real, they are real
in their consequences.”in their consequences.”
W.I.ThomasW.I.Thomas
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17. Quantitative vs Qualitative ResearchQuantitative vs Qualitative Research

Quantitative research – few concepts Quantitative research – few concepts (variables)(variables), ,
many cases many cases

ExampleExample::study 100 different incidents of teen deaths, then study 100 different incidents of teen deaths, then
report statistics of those who drank underagereport statistics of those who drank underage

Qualitative research – few cases, Qualitative research – few cases,
many concepts many concepts (variables)(variables)
ExampleExample::study 2 teen deaths, then examine their study 2 teen deaths, then examine their
respective family life, school performance, after-respective family life, school performance, after-
school hobbies, childhood experiences, peer school hobbies, childhood experiences, peer
interaction, etc.interaction, etc.
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18. Research methodsResearch methods

Surveys (interview),Surveys (interview),

Experiments,Experiments,

Document analysis,Document analysis,

Participant observation.Participant observation.
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19. SurveysSurveys

Questionnaires administered to large Questionnaires administered to large
populationpopulation

Questions standardized and/or open-ended Questions standardized and/or open-ended
(scales)(scales)

Key issue is sampling to ensure Key issue is sampling to ensure
representative (random, quotas)representative (random, quotas)

Efficient data collection, answers are strictly Efficient data collection, answers are strictly
comparable between respondentscomparable between respondents

May not access ‘real’ beliefs, and may in May not access ‘real’ beliefs, and may in
general be superficial if over-standardizedgeneral be superficial if over-standardized
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20. Analysis of documentsAnalysis of documents

Primary / secondary;Primary / secondary;

Public / privat;Public / privat;

Purposive or not.Purposive or not.
Text analysis - Text analysis - contentcontent analysis analysis
““Who says, what, to whom, how and with what Who says, what, to whom, how and with what
effect?”effect?”
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21. EthnographyEthnography

Uses fieldwork: first-hand studies of people Uses fieldwork: first-hand studies of people
and their understandingsand their understandings

Participant observationParticipant observation

Usually generates rich and in-depth Usually generates rich and in-depth
informationinformation

Broader understanding of social processesBroader understanding of social processes

Can only be used to study relatively small Can only be used to study relatively small
populationspopulations

Difficult to generalize from single studiesDifficult to generalize from single studies
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22. Sociological researchSociological research


OnetimeOnetime
Cross-sectional: different Cross-sectional: different
characteristics of characteristics of
population (age, population (age,
education, income education, income
etc.)etc.)

RepeatedRepeated
Longitude: the same Longitude: the same
respondents respondents
interviewed few times; interviewed few times;
methods remain the methods remain the
same.same.
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23. Theory – research connectionTheory – research connection
Sociological knowledge
Theory
Knowledge about the
subject – logically
systemized facts about the
research subject
Research
Knowledge about means to
get them, i.e. methodological
knowledge
Process of
the
sociological
research -
stages
Sociological
information
gathering
methods
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24. Ethical problemsEthical problems

Balance of price / benefit (knowledge v. privacy);Balance of price / benefit (knowledge v. privacy);

Informed agreement: competence, voluntarism, full Informed agreement: competence, voluntarism, full
information;information;

Privacy (sensibility of information, environment, Privacy (sensibility of information, environment,
publishing);publishing);

Anonymity, confidentiality (deleting identificators, Anonymity, confidentiality (deleting identificators,
broader categories, micro-aggregation, introducing broader categories, micro-aggregation, introducing
errors);errors);

Researchers relationships.Researchers relationships.
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