Source used: OpenStax College. (2012, June 12). Introduction to Sociology.

Retrieved from the Connexions Web site:

http://cnx.org/content/col11407/1.7/. Slides were created (changes were made and material was added) with
materials from OpenStax College under the Creative Commons license located at
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Outcomes
2.1 List the empirical methods of sociological research.
2.2 Describe the steps in the research process.
2.3 Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative
research methods.
2.4 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of
various research techniques, including questionnaires,
interviews, observations/participant observations and
secondary analysis.

Introduction to Sociological
Research
Empirical evidence: evidence corroborated by direct
experience and/or observation

Steps in scientific study:
defining a specific question
gathering information and resources through observation
forming a hypothesis
testing the hypothesis in a reproducible manner
analyzing and drawing conclusions from the data
publishing the results
anticipating further development when future researchers
respond to and retest findings.
Figure 2.2
The scientific method is an essential
tool in research.
Approaches to Sociological
Research
The scientific method involves developing and testing
theories about the world based on empirical evidence.
Reliability: how likely research results are to be
replicated if the study is reproduced.
Validity: how well the study measures what it was
designed to measure.
Steps in the Scientific Method
1) Ask a question
operational definition, that is, they define the concept in
terms of the physical or concrete steps it takes to
objectively measure it.
2) Research existing sources
literature review, which is a review of any existing similar
or related studies.
3) Formulate a hypothesis
A hypothesis is an assumption about how two or more
variables are related
Dependent vs. independent variables




Table 1: Examples of Dependent and Independent
Variables
Typically, the independent variable causes the
dependent variable to change in some way.
Research Methods
Survey
Field research
Experiment
Secondary data analysis
Surveys
Hawthorne effect people changing their behavior because
they know they are being watched as part of a study.

A survey collects data from subjects who respond to a series
of questions about behaviors and opinions, often in the
form of a questionnaire.
Population
Sample
Random sample
Qualitative vs. quantitative data
Interview

Figure 2.8
Field research happens in real locations. What type of environment do work spaces
foster? What would a sociologist discover after blending in? (Photo courtesy of
drewzhrodague/flickr)
Field Research
Field research refers to gathering primary data from a natural
environment without doing a lab experiment or a survey.

Three types of field research:
participant observation: researchers join people and participate in a
groups routine activities for the purpose of observing them within
that context.
Ethnography: the extended observation of the social perspective
and cultural values of an entire social setting.
Case study: an in-depth analysis of a single event, situation, or
individual.
Figure 2.7
Is she a working waitress or a sociologist conducting a study using participant
observation? (Photo courtesy of zoetnet/flickr)
Experiments
Experiment: investigate relationships to test a
hypothesis a scientific approach.


Secondary Analysis
Secondary data analysis
nonreactive (or unobtrusive) research
content analysis