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Social Research Methods

Learn about social research methods to test common assumptions, replace with facts, and make generalizations based on evidence. Explore quantitative vs qualitative approaches, different research methods, variables, and theoretical perspectives.

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Social Research Methods

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  1. Social Research Methods

  2. Social Research Goal: Test common sense & peoples assumptions then replace with fact & evidence and make………… Generalizations!! Definition: statement about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things in that group.

  3. Social Research Where to we do research? • The whole world is a sociologists lab!

  4. Two Types : Quantitative: research that relies on numerical data VS. Qualitative: research which uses observation and relies upon descriptive data

  5. Methods: • Experiment: research that takes place in a lab setting (limited use in social research) • Field Research: research that takes place in a natural (non-lab) setting (primarily used in social research) VS

  6. Methods: • Survey: research method in which people respond to questions (most common method used in research) • Questionnaire: asking a sample population to respond to a to a series of closed-ended questions • Interview: asking of open-ended questions in order to gain required information Two Types: Quantitative Qualitative

  7. Methods: • Secondary/Historical Analysis: reading and analyzing • another persons data and r research on a topic • Case Study: in depth examination of a single group, • problem, or community • Longitudinal Study: type of case study that is conducted over a period of time. • Cross-sectional Study: focus on data collected at a specific period of time.

  8. Methods: • Natural Observation: research based on observation of people in any given environment(place) • Participant Observation: research in which the researcher becomes involved with the group being studied

  9. Theoretical Perspectives: Topic of Study: School Violence

  10. The Social Research Method Step 1: Choose a Topic……AND……Ask a Question Example: Topic  Sport and School Behavior and Grades Question  What is the impact does playing a high school sport have on the behavior of student athletes in class?

  11. The Social Research Method • Step 2: • Literature Review • What does research that has already been done say about this topic? • Example: • I would read and review: • American Sociological Association Journal Articles about Sports & School • Books by authors who studied this topic previously • Interviews from athletes (high school and college) • Newspaper Articles about Sports and School

  12. The Social Research Method • Step 3: • State your Hypothesis • What do I think will be my answer? • Hypothesis= proposed explanation for a phenomenon. Example: Hypothesis  Students who play a high school sport will have better behavior in school versus those students who do not play a high school sport.

  13. The Social Research Method Step 4: Develop your Research Plan Choose your methods to collect data (3) Create a timeline for your research Choose your research population Example: Methods  Survey, Interview, Secondary Analysis (data) Timeline  I will conduct my research over a period of 2 weeks Population  I will research 50 student-athletes and 50 non-athletes grades 9-12 at SHS

  14. The Social Research Method • Step 5: • Collect your Data • Go out and perform your research! • Variables: • Independent Variable= varied or manipulated by the researcher; the ‘cause’. • Dependent Variable= response that is measured; the ‘effect’. • Variable  Playing a sport(Independent) will yield either good or bad behavior(Dependent)

  15. The Social Research Method • Step 6: • Analyze your Data • Analyze your data and look for the following: • Patterns and Relationships • Correlations and Causations Example: Patterns  A majority/few student athletes have good behavior in class. Relationship  Being a student-athlete causes better behavior in class (Direct Relationship) Correlation  I found a positive correlation between student- athletes and positive behavior

  16. The Social Research Method • Step 7: • State your Conclusions • What generalizations can be drawn from the results of your research? • Was your hypothesis proven correct or incorrect? Example: Hypothesis  My hypothesis was proven to be correct Generalization  Students who play high school sports tend to behave better in class.

  17. Examining Results • Causation= an outcome has been directly caused by a variable or factor. • Sociologists examine cause and effect by looking at the variables, or characteristics, involved.

  18. Examining Results • Correlation= a change in one variable regularly associates with a change in another variable.

  19. Caveat: When conducting research, either in a lab setting or in society, outcomes do not always match the intended results.

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