Sociological research helps define reality through a systematic, careful, and controlled process of collecting information and answering questions. They design and choose questions in advance and ask them in a consistent way of a large number of people.
A common criticism of sociology is that it is just a fancy version of common sense. However, only through empirical research can we assume logical explanations about particular social phenomena.
Social research is purposeful. It is guided by a particular theory. A theory is a set of statements or propositions that seeks to explain or predict a certain aspect of life. The major theories of sociology are functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism.
Sociologists distinguish between independent and dependent variables. An independent variable is the factor that is presumed to cause or influence another variable. The dependent variable is the one assumed to depend on, be caused by, or change as a result of the independent variable.
A hypothesis is a researchable prediction that specifies the relationship between two or more variables.
Field Research
In field research, sociologists observe events as they actually occur, without purposely introducing any changes into the subject's environment. Unobtrusive observation is observation from a distance, without being involved. Content analysis is another form of unobtrusive participation in which the researcher studies recorded communications-books, speeches, poems, somgs, television, and so forth. A third type is historical analysis, which relies on existing historical documents as a source of research information.
Participant observation requires that the researcher interact with subjects. In some cases the researcher must identify with them. Research of this nature is quite time-consuming. It also proposes a confounding variable known as observer bias, which is to see what one expects to see.
Correlational Method
The correlation method studies the relationships between variable. The correlation coefficient varies between +1.00 and -1.00. In sociology it is used to determine validity and reliability. Know the difference between negative, positive and no correlation. A positive corre-lations result when one variable increases, so does the other. A negative correlation results when one variable increases the other decreases.
The Experiment
The experiment seeks to confirm cause-and-effect relationships by introducing independent variables and observing their effects on dependent variables.
The ideal experiments use experimental and control groups. Experimental groups obtain the treatment and the control groups do not. A placebo may be given to the control group. Studies done by or for the FDA must be double-blind. This is a study in which neither the subjects nor the participants know who is receiving the independent variable.
Ethics
-Harm
-Privacy
-Informed consent
-When is deception alright?