Applying Sociological Research Methods — Video Notes (Flashcards)

A set of Q&A flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on sociological research methods.

What is the difference between 'commonsense' knowledge and 'scientific' knowledge in sociology, and what role does empirical methods play?

Scientific knowledge uses empirical methods to study social phenomena; sociology is a social science that relies on evidence-based inquiry.

What is sociological reasoning and what are 'concept' and 'variable' with examples?

Sociological reasoning combines empirical methods with theory; a concept is an abstract idea (e.g., 'social class'), while a variable is a measurable property (e.g., 'marital status').

What are deductive and inductive reasoning in sociology?

Deductive reasoning starts with a theory and tests it; inductive reasoning starts with data and derives theory from it.

List the goals of sociological research as presented.

Explore, Describe, Explain, Evaluate, Empower.

What are the eight steps of the sociological research process?

Research question; Literature review; Narrowed focus; Research design; Data collection; Data analysis; Draw conclusions; Report findings.

Provide an example of a research question about poverty from the notes.

Example: 'How does being homeless affect the physical health of Edmonton’s male homeless population?' or 'How can we eliminate poverty in Edmonton?'

What makes a 'better' research question according to the notes?

It clearly defines the topic, specifies the focus, and indicates significance (e.g., attitudes toward legalization or changes in marriage patterns).

What is the purpose of a literature review in Step 2, and which databases are recommended?

To summarize what is already known; use sociological databases like SocINDEX and Sociological Abstracts; distinguish databases from general Internet search engines.

What does Step 3 'Narrowed Focus' involve?

Making the research doable by operationalizing variables, considering reliability, replicability and validity, and developing a hypothesis.

What is Step 4 'Research Design' about?

Describes the proposed research design: research interest, objects/subjects, and techniques for data collection and analysis.

What does Step 5 'Data Collection' indicate?

Start collecting your data.

What does Step 6 'Data Analysis' involve?

Organizing data (coding/indexing) and using software like SPSS, SAS, Nvivo for analysis.

What is Step 7 'Draw Conclusions' asking you?

What do the data tell you? What conclusions follow from the analysis.

What is Step 8 'Report Findings' about?

Disseminating findings to advance knowledge and subjecting them to peer review via conferences and journals.

Why are ethics important in research?

To protect participants, prevent harm, and ensure responsible conduct; guided by guidelines like TCPS2.

What is the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2)?

Guidelines for conducting research with human subjects; federal funding agencies and universities require adherence.

What is the 'Do no harm' ethics approach?

Risk assessment is central; balance between potential gain and risk, with the welfare of research subjects prioritized.

What are the three ethics principles: Respect for Persons, Concern for Welfare, and Justice?

Respect for Persons: treat participants with dignity and obtain informed consent; Concern for Welfare: well-being and privacy; Justice: no exploitation and fair benefits.

What is the difference between anonymity and confidentiality?

Anonymity means researchers cannot identify participants (hard to achieve); confidentiality means identities are masked and data are protected, with identifying information destroyed after a period.

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative methodologies?

Qualitative describes the quality/nature of a phenomenon and uses inductive reasoning (often grounded theory); quantitative counts/measures and uses deductive reasoning.

What is the 'trustworthiness' of methods in sociology?

Quantitative: reliability, replicability, and validity; Qualitative: triangulation using multiple data collection methods (e.g., interviews, observations, focus groups, document analyses).

Name the main sociological research methods listed in the notes.

Experiments, Surveys, Interviews, Secondary Data Analysis, Ethnography, Observation, Mixed/Multiple Methods.

What is an experimental method in sociology?

Tests hypotheses with random assignment to conditions; independent variable is the presumed cause; dependent variable is the effect; includes control groups; can be lab or field experiments.

What are the strengths and limitations of experiments?

Strengths: can test causality and isolate variables; Limitations: artificiality and low generalizability in lab settings; field experiments offer realism but less control.

What is a survey in sociological research?

Respondents answer a questionnaire; uses a representative sample; population is the group of interest; samples can be random or convenience.

What are the strengths and limitations of surveys?

Strengths: high response rate, rich information, relationships among variables; Limitations: validity concerns and respondent accuracy.

What are key considerations in interviews (and focus groups)?

Interviews can be standardized or unstandardized; focus groups involve a moderator and multiple participants; strengths include clarifying questions and rich data; limitations include maintaining rapport and managing group dynamics.

What is secondary data analysis and what techniques are used?

Analyzing data collected by others (e.g., Statistics Canada); techniques include content analysis, discourse analysis, and historical analysis; strengths: large data sets and reliability; limitations: validity and incomplete measures.

What is ethnography in sociological research?

Field work in natural settings; researcher may be a participant or observer; long duration; can be overt or covert.

What does a methods comparison table highlight?

It contrasts Purpose, Features, Strengths, and Limitations of methods like experiments, surveys, interviews, secondary data analysis, ethnography, and observation to guide method choice.

What is the overall summary of the lecture notes?

Sociology uses both deductive and inductive reasoning; a step-by-step research process; ethics protect participants; both quantitative and qualitative methods have strengths and limitations.

Define key terms: Concept and Variable.

Concept: an abstract idea expressed as a word or phrase; Variable: a measurable property of people or things.

Define operationalization.

Defining variables to be precisely measurable so they can be tested in research.