Scribd
Upload
52 views

C02 Symbaluk 3ce

Uploaded by

nt
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
52 views

C02 Symbaluk 3ce

Uploaded by

nt
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 27

NETA PowerPoint® Slides

to accompany

Prepared by
Tami Bereska
MacEwan University

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 1


Chapter 2

Applying Sociological Research Methods

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 2


Overview
A. Why sociological research is important
B. The sociological research process
C. The importance of ethics in research
D. Qualitative and quantitative research
E. Sociological research methods

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 3


(A) Why Sociological Research is Important
• “Commonsense” knowledge compared to “scientific”
knowledge
• “Scientific” knowledge uses empirical methods
• Sociology is a “social science”

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 4


Sociological Reasoning
• Combines empirical methods with theory
– Concept = an abstract idea expressed as a word or phrase
• e.g., “social class”
– Variable = a categorical concept for properties of people or things
• e.g., “single” is one of the categories in the variable “marital
status”

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 5


Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 6
Goals of Sociological Research

Explore

Describe

Explain

Evaluate

Empower
Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7
(B) The Sociological Research Process
Research question
Literature review
Narrowed focus
Research design
Data collection
Data analysis
Conclusions
Report findings

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 8


Step 1: Research Question

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 9


Step 2: Literature Review
• What is already known about this topic?
– Sociological databases
• e.g., SocINDEX
• e.g., Sociological abstracts
– Sociological databases versus Internet search engines
• e.g., Google

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 10


Step 3: Narrowed Focus
• How can you turn your research question into a doable
project?
– Operationalize any variables
– Consider reliability and validity
– Develop a hypothesis

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 11


Step 4: Research Design
• What specific steps will you take to find an answer to your
research question?
– Research interest
– Objects or subjects of study
– Techniques for data collection and analysis

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 12


Step 5: Data Collection

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 13


Step 6: Data Analysis
• Compile data into a format that helps you learn more about
the research problem
– Coding/indexing
– SPSS
– NVivo

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 14


Step 7: Draw Conclusions

Romolo Tavani/Shutterstock.com
What do the data tell you?
Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 15
Step 8: Report Findings
• Scholars must disseminate their findings
– To be subjected to peer review
– To contribute to the body of knowledge in the area
• Academic conferences and journals
– e.g., Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences
– e.g., Canadian Journal of Sociology

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 16


(C) The Importance of Ethics in Research
• Historical cases of human mistreatment in research
– e.g., Stanford Prison Experiment
• Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2)
– Respect for persons (e.g., debriefing)
– Concern for welfare
– Prioritization of justice

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 17


(D) Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Qualitative Methods Quantitative Methods

• Count things or test


• Describe the quality of a hypotheses to explain a
phenomenon using words
phenomenon

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 18


(E) Sociological Research Methods

Experiments Surveys

Secondary
Interviews Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 19
Experiments:
What’s Causing This?
• Test hypotheses
• Random assignment to conditions
• Independent variable = the presumed “cause”
• Dependent variable = the “effect”
• Control group
• Lab experiments versus field experiments

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 20


Surveys:
What is Your Opinion?
• Respondents answer the survey questions in a questionnaire
about their attitudes or behaviours
• Use of a representative sample that closely approximates the
population of interest

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 21


Interviews:
What Can You Tell Me About This?
• Standardized interviews
• Unstandardized interviews
• Focus groups
– A moderator interviews a small group of people simultaneously

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 22


Secondary Data Analysis:
What Inferences Can Be Made From This Data?

• Analyzes data that was created by someone else for a different


purpose
– e.g., Statistics Canada, diaries, websites, movies, graffiti
• Content analysis
• Discourse analysis
• Historical analysis

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 23


Ethnography:
What Is It Like Being a Member of That Group?
• Various forms of fieldwork to describe everyday behaviour in
natural settings
– To learn more about a subculture
– To assess a social problem within a particular group
• Use of multiple methods with that subculture or group
– Observations, detailed notes, photos, interviews, participating in
activities with the group

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 24


Observation:
What Is Happening?

Systematic Participant
Observation Observation

• No participation
• e.g., children playing in a • Participation in the group
park • e.g., a motorcycle gang

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 25


Mixed or Multiple Methods

Single-Case Design Convergent Design

• e.g., of the John Howard • e.g., care setting transitions


Society in the last year of life

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 26


Summary
 Sociology uses deductive and inductive reasoning
 There are several steps in the research process, from
determining a research question to reporting findings
 Ethical guidelines protect research participants
 Quantitative and/or qualitative methods can be used
 Each research method has its strengths and limitations

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 27

You might also like