CHAPTER 11, COMPARATIVE AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH

1. CHAPTER 11, COMPARATIVE AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH

2. Chapter Outline • Content Analysis • Analyzing Existing Statistics • Comparative and Historical Research • Ethics and Unobtrusive Measures • Quick Quiz

3. Unobtrusive Research – Methods of studying social behavior without affecting it. • Example: Durkheim’s analysis of suicide • Types of Unobtrusive Research • Content Analysis • Analysis of Existing Statistics • Comparative and Historical Analysis

4. Content Analysis • Content Analysis – The study of recorded human communications (i.e., books, websites, paintings, laws). • Appropriate Topics • “Who says what, to whom, why, how, and with what effect?”

5. Example: violence on TV • Develop operational definitions • Decide what to observe • Decide how to code/analyze data

6. Figure 11.1 • Sampling in Content Analysis • Units of Analysis

7. Identify the unit of analysis: • You are interested in how children’s literature portrays gender roles. • You are interested in popular film’s use of drugs and alcohol. • You are interested in sociology textbook’s definition of race. • You are interested in the content of Internet Blogs.

8. Figure 11.2

9. Sampling Techniques • Any conventional sampling technique may be used for content analysis.

10. Coding in Content Analysis • Coding – The process whereby raw data are transformed into standardized form suitable for machine processing and analysis.

11. Manifest Content – The concrete terms contained in a communication. • Latent Content – The underlying meaning of communication.

12. Conceptualization and the Creation of Code Categories • Operational Definition • Levels of Measurement • Counting and Record Keeping • The end product of coding must be numerical. • Record keeping must distinguish between units of analysis and units of observation. • Record from the base from which the counting is done.

13. Figure 11.4

14. Qualitative Data Analysis • “Negative Case Testing” • Tips for Avoiding Dangers • Select cases at random • Provide at least three supporting examples • Ask others to review interpretations • Report inconsistencies

15. Illustrations of Content Analysis

16. Strengths of Content Analysis • Economy of time and money • Allowing for the correction of errors • Permits the study of processes occurring over time • Research has little (if any) effect on subjects • Reliability • Weaknesses of Content Analysis • Limited to recorded communications • Validity

17. Analyzing Existing Statistics • The analysis of existing statistics is not the same as secondary analysis. • Existing statistics may be the main source of data or a supplemental source of data. • Example: Durkheim’s Study of Suicide • Example: Kentor’s Consequences of Globalization

18. Units of Analysis • By nature, existing statistics describe groups. • Ecological Fallacy

19. Problems of Validity • Logical Reasoning • Replication • Problems of Reliability • Quality of Existing Statistics

20. Sources of Existing Statistics • Statistical Abstract of the United States • Government Data • Demographic Yearbook • SINET

21. Comparative and Historical Research • Comparative and Historical Research – The examination of societies (or other social units) over time and in comparison with one another.

22. Examples of Comparative and Historical Research • Weber and the Role of Ideas • Japanese Religion and Capitalism • Sources of Comparative and Historical Data

23. Figure 11.5

24. Analytic Techniques

25. Quick Quiz

26. 1. Which type of research does not require the researcher to intrude on what s/he is studying? • Quantitative Research • Qualitative Research • Survey Research • Unobtrusive Research

27. Answer: D. Unobtrusive research does not require the researcher to intrude on what s/he is studying?

28. 2. Which of the following may be examined in content analysis? • books • magazines • websites • all of the above

29. Answer: D. Books, magazines, and websites may be examined in content analysis.

30. 3. Which of the following occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake your own statistical analysis? • using quasi official statistics • using official statistics • secondary analysis • none of the above

31. Answer: C. Secondary analysis occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake your own statistical analysis.

32. 4. Which of the following are types of unobtrusive research methods? • content analysis • analysis of existing statistics • comparative and historical research • all of the above

33. Answer: D. Content analysis, analysis of existing statistics, and comparative and historical research are types of unobtrusive research methods.

34. 5. Which of the following are usually qualitative? • field research • comparative and historical research • both of the above • none of the above

35. Answer: C. Field research and comparative and historical research are usually qualitative.

36. 6. _____ are the individual units that we make descriptive and explanatory statements about. • Units of analysis • Artifacts • Groups • all of the above

37. Answer: A. Units of analysis are the individual units that we make descriptive and explanatory statements about.

38. 7. In the content analysis of _____, sampling may occur at any or all of several levels. • written prose • television • the Internet

39. Answer: A. In the content analysis of written prose sampling may occur at any or all of several levels.

40. 8. Existing statistics should always be considered a _____ source of data. • primary • supplemental • tertiary • all of the above • none of the above

41. Answer: B. Existing statistics should always be considered a supplemental source of data.

42. 9. When we base research on an analysis of data that already exist, we face problems of: • repeatability. • validity. • generalization.

43. Answer: B. When we base research on an analysis of data that already exist, we face problems of validity.