Research methods chapter 2: laboratory experiments

Popper

Positivist methodology seeks to uncover social facts and the laws that govern social behaviour and explain them in precise measurable ways.

Inductive and deductive approaches

Inductive approach

Data is collected, analysed, a theory emerges explaining the data

Popper rejects this method

Why does Popper reject the inductive approach?

Because it assumes the theory from the analysed data is a fact, which is dangerous as it can be disproven

Deductive approach

A sociologist creates a testable hypothesis, the hypothesis is continually tested, allowing the sociologist to keep an open mind: what advances in knowledge emerge and what new evidence emerges to disprove what was considered factual

What according to popper is one of the best ways to put the deductive approach into practice?

Laboratory experiments

Laboratory experiments

Closed settings, precise predictions can be tested, dependent and independent variables, control group, supports process of falsification

Dependent variable

Identifying precisely what it is they want to make sense of

Independent variable

Things that might or might not influence the dependent variable

Bandura

The effects on children of viewing violence, they all viewed a film of an adult behaving aggressively towards a bobo doll. The first group were shown a video of a second adult criticising this behaviour, the second group were shown a video of the second adult praising this behaviour and the third group did not see a third video.

The children were then allowed to play with toys, Bandura found that children in group 2 were least likely to be aggressive

Positives of Bandura

A good example of poppers deductive method (a testable hypothesis that is open to falsification),

laboratory experiments have good reliability,

sociologist has great control over research considering the extent to which variables are linked to causation,

subjects are willing to partake in the study

Contemporary application supporting Bandura

School bomb threats: disgruntled Minecraft gamer behind hoax

1999- one of the attackers in the Columbine High School massacre called his gun “Arlene” from the computer game Doom

Negatives of Bandura

Causation assumed- long term or short term effects,

external validity,

Hawthorne effect,

lack of informed consent

Milgram

Lied to subjects about the purpose of his research, they were told it was about learning, and that they should administer shocks to the learner testing people’s willingness to obey authority in inflicting pain, 65% of subjects were prepared to obey orders and shock to 450 volts

Negatives of milgrim

Caused harm for example some subjects sweated stuttered trembled and groaned while taking part in the research and some even developed depression

Unethical because of the deception that took place