LAST LECTURE. What Do Sociologists Do? Forms of Truth. What Is a Valid Sociological Topic? Any kind of human behaviour & social interaction

Transcription

1 What Do Sociologists Do? LAST LECTURE Forms of Truth Belief or faith Expert testimony Simple agreement Science Logical system that bases knowledge on direct systematic observation What Is a Valid Sociological Topic? Any kind of human behaviour & social interaction Macro & micro level analyses The Difference Between Common Sense & Sociological Research Testing vs. assuming or guessing 1

2 3 Frameworks for Sociological Investigation Scientific sociology (A.K.A. Positivism or Quantitative) The study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior Empirical evidence information we can verify with our senses Interpretive sociology (Qualitative) The study of society that focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world Weber: because humans give meanings, the goal is to understand behaviour from the actors point of view, not predict it. Critical sociology The study of society that focuses on the need for change Six Research Methods Surveys Participant Observation Qualitative Interviews Secondary Analysis Documents Unobtrusive Measures Surveys Samples Population Random Samples Strategies for Asking Questions Questionnaires & interviews: Self-administered Structured interviews Closed-ended questions Establishing rapport 2

3 Participant Observation (Fieldwork) Participating in the research setting Observation & recording The problem of generalizability vs. rich specific description Qualitative Interviews Structured conversation Interview schedule Feminist perspectives Highly descriptive analysis, but not always viewed as objective by more conventional researchers Secondary Analysis Analyze data already collected by others Data Liberation Initiative Excellent source of information, but one can not be sure of how systematically the original data were gathered 3

4 Documents Examine books, newspapers, diaries, bank records, police reports, household accounts, immigration files, etc. Usually best to utilize multiple sources or types of sources Access to source material can pose a problem Deciding Which Method to Use Quantitative Research Methods Measurement, numbers, statistics Structured questionnaires or surveys Qualitative Research Methods Observation, description, & interpretation Participant observation or qualitative interviews A Research Model: Eight Basic Steps 1. Selecting a Topic 2. Defining the Problem 3. Reviewing the Literature 4. Formulating a Hypothesis or Research Question Hypothesis Variables Operational definitions 4

5 A Research Model: Eight Basic Steps (continued) 5. Choosing a Research Method 6. Collecting the Data 1. Validity 2. Reliability 7. Analyzing the Results 8. Sharing the Results The Research Model How Research & Theory Work Together Interdependent Theory stimulates research Research stimulates the development of theory 5

6 Ethical Guidelines for Research Must strive to be technically competent & fair-minded Must disclose findings in full without omitting significant data & be willing to share their data Must protect the safety, rights and privacy of subjects Must obtain informed consent-- subjects are aware of of risks and responsibilities and agree Must disclose all sources of funding & avoid conflicts of interest Must demonstrate cultural sensitivity 6