Chapter 5

Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach 7/e James M. Henslin Chapter Five: How Sociologists Do Research

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

What is a Valid Sociological Topic? 

Macro—Broad Matters



Micro—Individualistic Matters

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Common Sense and the Need for Research 

What Everyone Knows May Not Be True



Move Beyond Guesswork

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

A Research Model 1.

Selecting a Topic

2.

Defining a Problem

3.

Reviewing the Literature

4.

Formulating a Hypothesis Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

A Research Model 5.

Choosing a Research Method

6.

Collecting Data

7.

Analyzing Results

8.

Sharing Results Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 

Surveys 



Selecting a Sample 

Random Sample



Stratified Random Sample

Asking Neutral Questions

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 

Questionnaires 

Self-Administered



Allow the Largest Sample



Low Cost



Loss of Researcher Control

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 



Interviews 

More Researcher Control



Time Consuming



Interviewer Bias

Structured Interviews 



Open-Ended Questions

Establishing Rapport Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 

Participant Observation (Fieldwork) 

Researcher Participates



Problems with Generalizability



Done for Exploratory Work



Generates Hypotheses Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 

Secondary Analysis 

Analyze Data Collected by Others



Researcher Cannot Be Sure of Data Quality

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 

Documents 

Examine Books, Newspapers, Diaries, etc.



Limited Scope



Cannot Study Topic Unless Access is Granted

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 

Experiments 

Experimental Group



Control Group



Independent Variables



Dependent Variables Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Research Methods 

Unobtrusive Measures 

Observe People Without Them Knowing



Question of Ethics

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Deciding Which Method to Use  Available

 Access

Resources

to Subjects



Purpose of Research



Researcher’s Background and Training

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Deciding Which Method to Use 



Quantitative Research Methods 

Emphasis on Precise Measurement



Uses Statistics and Numbers

Qualitative Research Methods 

Emphasis on Observing, Describing, and

Interpreting Behavior

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Gender in Sociological Research  Affects Orientation and Attitudes 

Interviewer Bias



Women and Men Lead Different Lives



In Past, Women’s Experiences Neglected

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Ethics in Sociological Research  Openness, Honesty, and Truthfulness 

Forbids Falsifying Results



Condemns Plagiarism



Subjects’ Informed Consent



Subjects’ Anonymity

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Ethics in Sociological Research 

Protecting Subjects: The Brajuha Research



Misleading Subjects: The Humphreys Research

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Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research

How Research and Theory Work Together  Theory Helps Interpretation of Data 

Theory Generates Questions for Research



Research Helps Generate Theory

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