Intro to Scientific Method and Research Methods
The Scientific Method
Be your best guess. How long would it take us to get from this campus to Downtown Illinois? It depends on transportation. Method.
All research, no matter what field, starts with the scientific method. It is the process of observing the world, ory, and designing experiments that test the hypothesis.
From the smallest of theories to the most complex of theories, the scientific method is used to help reduce the number of errors.
Researchers can study social phenomena that are occurring now (e.g., social media) and ask questions like: Why did this event happen? What factors contributed?
You can research almost anything, even topics that seem unusual (e.g., the proper way to tie your shoes).
There is no strict limitation on what can be studied; curiosity drives research.
Theory and Definitions
What is a theory?
A theory is a systematic generalized model of how some aspect of the world works.
A theory can be formed about almost anything.
The value of theory: you can apply theoretical ideas to your own major and connect them to everyday observations (e.g., people going about their day).
Types of Research Methods
Two common types: quantitative and qualitative.
Quantitative research
Gathers information about the social world that is either already available or can be converted to numeric form.
Qualitative research
Seeks to collect information about the social world that cannot be readily converted to numeric form.
Qualitative methods offer many ways to study social phenomena beyond numbers.
Examples from the transcript:
"Poor diet is associated with poor health." (illustrates association/correlation in a general sense)
There can be factors that correlate with outcomes, sometimes positively or negatively (e.g., higher education, higher income).
In introductory courses, instructors may focus on a subset of factors (e.g., two factors) to illustrate the concepts.
Illustrative point: you can research about almost anything, even everyday life topics.
Key Concepts: Causality, Variables, and Hypotheses
Causality
A change in one factor causes a change in another.
Proving causality in social science is challenging and typically requires specific criteria.
Four criteria often discussed (as presented in the transcript):
Correlation (covariation) between X and Y
Time or temporal precedence (one variable changes before the other)
Order (often treated as temporal order; X comes before Y)
Ruling out other explanations (non-spuriousness or controlling for confounds)
Reverse causality
A situation where the presumed effect actually causes the presumed cause (e.g., B causes A instead of A causing B).
Variables terminology
Dependent variable (DV): the outcome the researcher is trying to explain.
Independent variable (IV): the cause or predictor that is hypothesized to influence the DV.
Example: how does phone use before bedtime affect sleep?
DV: Sleep (or sleep quality)
IV: Phone use before bedtime
Hypothesis
An educated guess about the proposed relationship between two variables.
In research, hypotheses are tested by repeating observations or experiments.
Replication and variability
Repeating measurements to see if the pattern holds.
If something happens 9 times out of 10, researchers test whether it would hold for 10 out of 10 (i.e., 9/10 vs 10/10).
Sometimes results may be 6 out of 10 in other replications; variability is common in social research.
Example Scenarios and Illustrations from the Transcript
Topic ideas to illustrate the research process:
Why do some drunk drivers survive crashes? What factors contribute to this outcome?
The dramatic question of “what is it about drunk driving” and how researchers might study it.
The relationship between social media usage and various social outcomes.
An illustrative, playful research example from years past mentioned in the transcript:
A project about the proper way to tie shoes (to show research can be about almost anything, even everyday tasks).
A concrete example tying to education and income:
A college degree might be associated with higher income, but confounding factors (e.g., student loans, debt, buying a car) can influence outcomes.
The transcript cites an extreme scenario to illustrate how multiple factors can jointly influence a result, highlighting the need to consider causality and confounds.
Connections to Research Practice and Real-World Relevance
Research starts with observation and moves toward testing hypotheses to reduce errors in understanding.
The approach applies across disciplines and connects to real-world issues (current events, social phenomena, public health, education, finance).
Understanding the difference between quantitative and qualitative data helps researchers choose appropriate methods to study different questions.
The dependent variable and independent variable framework helps structure hypotheses and analyses.
The discussion of causality emphasizes that establishing a causal link requires more than a simple correlation; it requires establishing temporal order and ruling out alternate explanations.
The examples illustrate how everyday life observations can generate research questions with real-world implications (privacy, health, education policy, technology use).
Summary Takeaways
The scientific method guides all research by turning observations into testable hypotheses to reduce error.
Theories are broad, systematic models that explain how some aspect of the world works.
There are two main research approaches:
Quantitative: numeric data, measurements that can be analyzed statistically.
Qualitative: non-numeric data, descriptive, interpretive analyses.
Causality in social science requires: covariation (correlation), temporal order, and ruling out alternative explanations; reverse causality is a potential pitfall.
The dependent variable is what you measure; the independent variable is what you manipulate or consider as the predictor.
Hypotheses are educated guesses about the relationship between variables and are tested through repeated observations and experiments.
Real-world questions can be explored across a wide range of topics, including everyday activities and current social issues.
Notation and Minor Points Mentioned in Transcript
The transcript mentions a line about a research project on tying shoes about fifteen years ago:
It references a claim like: "Poor diet is associated with poor health" (an illustrative association).
It uses a practical example with a potential sequence: college degree, student loans, debt, and low income (illustrating confounds and causal complexity).
The discussion includes a rough, iterative approach to research (repeating observations, aiming for consistency across trials).