{Research & Ethicsin Sociology

Remember… Sociology is a type of science

Knowledge is based on direct, systematic observation

Knowledge is based on empirical evidence Information verified by the human senses

through the gathering of data

Sociologists strive for objectivity Evidence must be collected/evaluated in a

fair manner without bias State of personal neutrality

Sociology as a Scientific Study

1. Choose a topic/Identify a problem2. Review literature3. Form a hypothesis4. Choose a research method5. Collect data6. Analyze results7. Make conclusion/Share your

research

Research Method

Select a Topic Social construct

Preindustrial, Industrial, Postindustrial

Culture & Components Pop culture, Folk culture, &

Subcultures

Globalization

Social structure Status, role, in-group, out-

group

Social institutions Religion, Government,

Economy

Socialization and Development

Deviant behavior

Social control

Crime

Social inequality Race, Class, Gender,

Age

Can Stringent Laws Force Morality?

Causes and Impact of Emotional, Financial, and Physical Abuse of the Elderly

Teenage Suicide: Why it Happens and What to do About it

An Analysis of Harsh and/or Capital Punishment for Sex Offenders

How Does Over-Crowding Affect Human Beings?

Should School Uniforms be Banned?

List of Phobias and their Effect on Personality

The Rise of Divorces in Society - an Analysis

Solitary Confinement and its Emotional Effects

Gay Adoption and its Legal and Ethical Aspects

The Impact of Hate Crimes on Victims and Communities

Example Topics

Select a topic/Identify a problem What do you want to

know about? Narrow your topic

Examples: How does the existence of

welfare impact individuals of lower socioeconomic status?

Do women truly make less money than men?

How does the presence of alcohol impact its usage by young people?

Review the literature What is already known

about the problem?

Does the topic warrant further study?

Researchers are constantly testing reliability of research Does their research

generate the same findings?

Form a hypothesis Statement of what you

expect to find Predicts relationship

between variables (factors that change)

Examples: Students who use

marijuana will do worse in school than those that do not use marijuana.

Teachers who teach freshmen will lose more hair over a 5 year period than those teachers that teach upperclassmen.

Choose a research method Experiment Survey Observation

Which form of research suits your study?

Example: Researcher wants to

determine the impact of spousal abuse on women

Which research method should he/she use?

Collecting Data Is your data valid?

Did you actually measure what you intended to measure?

Analyzing the results

What correlations exist? Patterns, connections,

relationships

If conducting an experiment, was your hypothesis confirmed?

Sharing the results Share with the

scientific community

How did your research compare with the literature you have reviewed?

Choosing a Research Method

Participant Observation Systematic observations made while

joining in routine activities Involves

Interviewing Participating Observing

Examples: How does abuse affect dating patterns? How does gang membership impact socioeconomic

status?

Ethical Concerns:• Deceiving

respondents about reason for your presence

Examples: Recording racial differences in student’s

self-seating patterns in the lunchroom

Researcher sitting in McDonalds observing eating habits of men vs. women

Previous study revealed: We humans laugh 30 times more often in

social situations than in solitary situations

Naturalistic Observation

Choosing a Research Method Surveys

Series of questions via questionnaire or interview

Select a sample population Who will take your survey? Random sampling

Open-ended vs. Close-ended questions Open-ended: Allows subjects to answer in their

own words Close-ended: Select from a response list

Neutral questions to avoid bias Biased question: “Many people have said that there is a

need for stricter laws on dangerous weapons. Do you agree?”

Survey ExamplesClose-ended

Open-ended

Surveys

Advantages: Quick administration

& analysis (close-ended questions)

Open-ended questions create opportunity to answer in own words

Interviews allow researcher to further control situation

Disadvantages: Difficult to

construct questions without bias

Close-ended Difficult to get in-

depth info.

Open-ended questions Can make it

difficult to compare answers

Question of honesty

Survey/QuestionnaireIntroductions

What type of information is included in the example introductory statements

used for surveys/questionnaires?

Survey/Questionnaire Introductions

Purpose of research

Voluntary participation

Confidentiality Information kept in confidence, in secret

Anonymity Participation remains anonymous, or unknown

Case Study Obtaining detailed

information about an individual or group to develop general principles about behavior

Can be combined with diaries, tests, interviews

Example: Studies on

chimpanzees revealed their capacity for learning language

Advantages: Useful in studying

rare disorders or circumstances

Can generate new questions/topics

Disadvantages: Requires a lot of

time, effort, attention to detail

Choosing a Research Method Experiment

Independent variable Something that causes a change in another

variable

Dependent variable Variable that is changed

Experimental group Exposed to independent variable

Control group Group not exposed to independent variable

Often given placebo

Human

subjects

RandomAssignmen

t(Allows for controlling of other variables

Experimental Group

Control Group

Exposure to

independent variable

No exposure

to independent variable

1st measure of

dependent variable

2nd measure of dependent

variableExperimental group

Control group

Other Forms of Research Documents

Books Newspapers Bank records Government

documents

Secondary Analysis Reviewing data that

has already been collected

Unobtrusive Measures Observations made

unknowingly Taping calls One-way mirror

Issues: Ethical observations Advantage – no

change in behavior of subjects

Ethics in Research Sociologists must be

committed to: Openness Honesty Truth Protecting subjects from

harm

Max Weber: Social research should be

“value free” Set aside personal beliefs

Be objective in research

Replication is stressed for comparison of results

American Sociological Association (A.S.A.) Code of Ethics

Subjects entitled to biographical anonymity

Sociologists must get consent to avoid invasion of privacy

Do no harm Embarrassment Mental trauma Job loss Legal penalty

Simple Rules:• Consider reliability of subjects• Keep subjects best interests in

mind