L3: Research methods

what do sociologists try to avoid

confirmation bias

confirmation bias

tendency to seek out or interpret evidence that supports one’s existing beliefs

concept

an abstract idea

what does collecting data help with

• draw conclusions about the aspect of our social world

• provides to way to test concepts

• generate new concepts

7 steps of the research cycle

• articulate a research question

• review existing literature

• select a method

• obtain ethical approval

• collect data

• analyze data

• disseminate results

qualitative data

seek to develop in depth understandings of social phenomena and interpret meanings through the collection of non-numerical data

quantitative data

• relies on numerical data

• seeks to determine causal relationships and correlations between variables

quantitative research

• begins with a well defined research question

• large sample is used to test a hypothesis

• used to establish large scale patterns

qualitative research

• aims to achieve an in depth understanding of a research topic rather than establishing patterns

• analyzes words and images

primary goal of quantitative work

test hypotheses with 2 or more variables

primary goal of qualitative work

understand and interpret the experiences and perspectives of individuals

features of quantitative data

• independent variable

• dependent variable

independent variable

causes change in the dependent variable

dependent variable

changes after a change in the independent variable

correlation

an interdependent relationship between variables

causation

an effect in one variable caused by another variable

third variable in quantitative work

spurious relationship

spurious relationship

• statement about a relationship between two variables that seems to be causal but is not

• usually impacted by a third variable called spuriousness

reliability

dependability or consistency of the measure of a concept

validity

• how well a measure of a concept measures what it is supposed to

• describes accuracy

4 types of methods

• surveys and questionnaires

• official statistics

• interviews and focus groups

• field research

surveys

• interviewer asks predetermined questions

• answers recorded as data

questionnaires

participant reads and answers predetermined questions themselves

what type of research is survey and questionnaires. what type of data do they collect

• quantitative

• primary data

what is the variable in survey and questionnaires

the questions

strength of survey and questionnaires

can explore a wide range of variables

what kind of data is official statistics

secondary

official statistics strength

can have a large sample size

representative sample

a smaller group that represents an accurate cross section of the population

what kinda research are interviews and focus groups

qualitative

interviews

• one on one

• researcher guides with prepared questions to gather specific info

focus groups

• group interviews

• researcher acts as the moderator to guide discussion and ensure balanced participation

interviews and focus groups

allow follow up questions to explore topics deeply

field research

• aka ethnography

• involves immersing in a specific setting

• includes participant observation

• qualitative data

indigenous approach to field research

• knowledge is relational and shared

• integrating self, spirit and environment

• research must respect these

field notes

captures observation of social phenomena taken during field research

components of experimental design

• control group

• experimental group

• random assignment

• dependent variable

• independent variable

• two sets of observations or measurements

control group

• the group that does not recieve the experimental treatment

• independent variable

experimental group

• group exposed to experimental treatment

• independent variable

random assignment

assigning of participants into control or experimental groups randomly

2 types of sampling techniques

• probability sampling

• non probability sampling

probability sampling

• each unit in a pop has an equal chance of being selected

• aka random sampling

• produces a rep sample

• quantitative research

• better for establishing generalizability

non probability sampling

• each unit is chosen in a non random way

• based on convenience, association

• targets specific populations

• imp for in depth research

sampling frame

a list of all items, units or people in a pop

when is ethical compliance required

at all stages of research involving humans

what is followed in canada for ethics

• tri-council policy statement (TCPS2)

• emphasizes respect for participants and scientific integrity

• linked to canada’s 3 research funding agencies

• seperate chapter for indigneous peoples

research ethics

ethical principles that inform and guide research to protect the rights of participants

ethical review board

reviews prospective research projects to ensure adherence to ethical principles

what must researchers show in terms of research risk

benefits outweigh risks

when is deception approved

• strong rationale for its use

• debriefing is provided after participation

group vulnerability

known or expected vulnerabilities of participants in a study

common vulnerable groups

• people with poor physical or mental health

• incarcerated individuals

what increases vulnerability

power imbalances

2 ways to protect participant privacy

• anonymity

• confidentiality

laud humphreys study

• studied same sex encounters without knowledge of people

• violation of privacy and informed consent

• found many men lived outwardly heterosexual lives

quantitative analysis

• focuses on testing hypotheses about variable relationships using statistical software

• coding converts variable attributes into numerical values

qualitative analysis

• can be linear or simultaneous

• informs ongoing data

• coding identifies important and recurring themes rather than numerical values

peer reviewed journals

• manuscripts undergo double blind review to ensure work is judged solely on merit

• considered trustworthy sources

challenges of peer review

• slow process

• high rejection rates

• pressure to publish or perish

predatory journals

• exploit open access model

• rarely conduct proper reviews

• publish flawed papers

coding

process of categorizing data for analysis

purpose of sociological research

• making work publically accessible

• informing policy and community

sample

subset of a population