Methods of Sociological
Research
Chapter
2: Sociology, Schaefer. 1995-2008.
In 1971 Frances Heussenstamm
was interested in discovering whether or not bias and prejudice impacted the
way in which the police viewed and responded to everyday life events. Heussenstamm
conducted a field experiment. After selecting 15 students with exemplary driving
records, H. placed a Black Panther bumper sticker on each car. The students
followed their normal driving patterns. After 17 days the 15 drivers had amassed
33 traffic citations. Frances K. Heussenstamm, "Bumper Stickers and Cops," 8 Trans-action: Social Science and Modern Society (#4) 32-33 (February 1971)
In order to interpret and discuss
social reality we must first have a picture, some sort of pattern, or an image
of the interrelationships amongst the many variables that circumscribe human
interaction. The SCIENTIFIC METHOD or METHODOLOGY provides a systematic, organized
series of steps that insures maximum objectivity and consistency in researching
a problem. It provides a shared basis for discussion and analysis, and helps
to promote reliability and validity (consistency and accuracy). The information
provided through this method, the patterns and interrelationships are then explained
through Theoretical analysis. Theory directs research and research informs theory
(Reflexivity).
Science:
- Empirical, based on observation
- Focus: Causality (all events have
causes, same cause...same event); relationships between Variables,
what causes (is associated with) what? Independent and Dependent Variables.
- Causality vs Correlation:
Hume 18th century Scot.: temporal ordering (crime and drug use), probability,
logic
- Positive and negative correlation
- Intervening variables--Spurious
Correlations
- Controls-holding one variable
constant in order to observe its impact on another.
- Crime: Age vs. Social Class
vs. Single Parent households
- Educational Success: Social
class vs. Intelligence
Qualitative vs Quantitative Methods
- Weight and direction of relationships
(correlation coefficient)
- Probability vs specific case
- Measures of central tendency:
Typical household, proportion of one group compared to another (median; income-$35,939-White
vs African American; mode; mean-problem of skewing)
- Rates: Frequency with specific
populations (Unemployment: African Americans 3x higher than Whites)
- Sampling: Population and Generalizability
- Representative
- Random: 1936
presidential race-Literary digest vs Gallop, Landon vs Roosevelt
Problems in Doing Social Research:
- Hawthorne Effect
- People and Social Behavior--Complex;
Question of Ultimate Causes?
- Objectivity--Researcher part
of the phenomenon
-
- Harm: Zeller
and autocide, criminal activity.
- Privacy:
Garbology
- Informed
consent: Reiss and police brutality
- Deception:
Humphreys; Tearoom
Trade (see also: 1)
- Application
of Research: Project
Camelot
ASA Code of Ethics (1971,
1989)
- Maintain objectivity
and neutrality in research.
- Respect the subject's
right to privacy and dignity.
- Protect subjects
from personal harm.
- Acknowledge collaboration
and assistance.
- Disclose all
sources of financial support.
The Research
Model
(Sharon Collin's Study
of corporate hiring practices and Black executive. Issue: Black Demands
(control: Time-1965; pre--gov or private, post--70% private), BUT: "Adminstratively
marginal" and "economically vunerable"--racially linked jobs:
Affirmative action, urban affairs, reduced likelihood of advancement and
subject to 'downsizing'; yet highly visible.)
- Define the Problem:
what you hope to investigate. Operationalize concepts (intelligence, love,
etc.)
- Review the
literature: what has already been done? Replication studies, build on existing
knowledge.
- Formulate the Hypothesis:
tentative statement of relationship between independent and dependent variables.
- Choose Research
Design (cost, time, access), Collect and Analyze
- Conclusions and
Reporting .
Observational/P.O.:
- Reveals intimate details, uncovers
new information. Descriptive; problems: Generalizability.
- Examples:
- Foote-Whyte:
Street Corner Society-the slum as disorganized or differentially organized?
"By mapping the intricate social worlds of street gangs and "corner
boys," Whyte was among the first to demonstrate that a poor community
need not be socially disorganized. His writing set a standard for vivid
portrayals of real people in real situations. And his frank discussion
of his methodology--participant observation--has served as an essential
casebook in field research for generations of students and scholars."
(University of Chicago Press book review, http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/12361.ctl)
see also:(http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~soci421/Handouts/wwhyte.pdf)
- Sudnow
and Emergency Rooms-Double standard (group process)
- Goffman's
work-Behavior
in Public, Asylums
- Liebow: Talley's
Corner
- Unobtrusive
Observational Methods
Surveys: Interviews and Questionnaires
- Polls:
General Social Survey, Monitoring the Future (drug use)
- Blumstein
& Schwartz--American Couples (1975). Operationalize: Live together
and sexual relationship. Snowballing. Q and I. Findings: Income and control,
Infidelity: longer relationship, more infidelity, hetero married highest
fidelity, lesbians high fidelity
- Kristen
Luker: Pro-Anti Abortion. Findings: Birth Control and Social Costs.
Experiment:
Use of Existing Sources: Secondary
analysis, Content analysis.
ISSUES: Value Neutrality (Weber
vs Gouldner) and Government Funding.
URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/010/method.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel rok@umsl.edu
References and
Credits for this Page of Notes
Last Updated:
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 7:47 AM