1. You can use the book, the Internet, and other reliable sources, but do not put definitions onto your
PowerPoint unless you site it in APA format.
a. The presentation and content on the PowerPoint must be in your own words.
b. If you use flash cards, that is fine. Do not read verbatim definitions or anything copied from
your sources.
2. At a minimum, the number of slides corresponds with the number of questions your case study has.
You will also be graded on several key things:
3.Minimum # slides – One per question
UMUC_SOCY100_Introduction to Sociology
Research: Why and How We Do It
As you have learned studying several of the historical figures of sociology mentioned above,
sociology requires us to go past our common sense (which can be faulty), experience (which can
be limited), and values (which are bound in time and culture) to gain new understandings of
social life. To do this, we need research tools or systematic ways in which to study social life. In
sociology, research tools fall under two main types: qualitative and quantitative methods. Each
has its advantages and disadvantages.
Quantitative methods are research tools such as surveys (developed to answer
specific research questions) and secondary data analysis (research using existing data
sets gathered for general purposes). Quantitative methods attempt to amass information
from large numbers of people. Of course, this method requires that people answer
prepared (close-ended) questions. Being forced to answer such questions in limited ways,
however, does not allow respondents to describe how they see their world.
Qualitative methods such as interviews (asking people open-ended
questions), content analysis (research to uncover the hidden meanings in, for example,
media coverage), orparticipant observation (physical observation of the social
interaction patterns of groups) take a different approach: they assume that the best way
to understand social life is to see the world through the individual's eyes. Researchers
may ask subjects why they act in certain ways or what rules and assumptions govern
their behavior. Questions in qualitative research instruments are more open-ended.
Limitations of this method are (1) the greater potential for bias (because researchers
themselves can be influenced by their subjects) and (2) the difficulty in generalizing
findings to larger groups, given the small sample size in studies using this method.
The social patterns found in responses, if done correctly, are taken to be "social facts"
and, therefore, are thought to contain information about social life.
Conducting Sociological Research
The steps in conducting sociological research can be listed as follows:
1. Select a topic: Find an interesting aspect of social life to study and state the subject to be studied in clear
terms.
2. Review previous research: Go the library and the Web to find out what research ...
1. You can use the book, the Internet, and other reliable sources,
1. 1. You can use the book, the Internet, and other reliable
sources, but do not put definitions onto your
PowerPoint unless you site it in APA format.
a. The presentation and content on the PowerPoint must be in
your own words.
b. If you use flash cards, that is fine. Do not read verbatim
definitions or anything copied from
your sources.
2. At a minimum, the number of slides corresponds with the
number of questions your case study has.
You will also be graded on several key things:
3.Minimum # slides – One per question
UMUC_SOCY100_Introduction to Sociology
Research: Why and How We Do It
2. As you have learned studying several of the historical figures of
sociology mentioned above,
sociology requires us to go past our common sense (which can
be faulty), experience (which can
be limited), and values (which are bound in time and culture) to
gain new understandings of
social life. To do this, we need research tools or systematic
ways in which to study social life. In
sociology, research tools fall under two main types: qualitative
and quantitative methods. Each
has its advantages and disadvantages.
(developed to answer
specific research questions) and secondary data analysis
(research using existing data
sets gathered for general purposes). Quantitative methods
attempt to amass information
from large numbers of people. Of course, this method requires
that people answer
prepared (close-ended) questions. Being forced to answer such
questions in limited ways,
however, does not allow respondents to describe how they see
their world.
-
ended
questions), content analysis (research to uncover the hidden
3. meanings in, for example,
media coverage), orparticipant observation (physical
observation of the social
interaction patterns of groups) take a different approach: they
assume that the best way
to understand social life is to see the world through the
individual's eyes. Researchers
may ask subjects why they act in certain ways or what rules and
assumptions govern
their behavior. Questions in qualitative research instruments are
more open-ended.
Limitations of this method are (1) the greater potential for bias
(because researchers
themselves can be influenced by their subjects) and (2) the
difficulty in generalizing
findings to larger groups, given the small sample size in studies
using this method.
if done correctly, are
taken to be "social facts"
and, therefore, are thought to contain information about social
life.
Conducting Sociological Research
The steps in conducting sociological research can be listed as
follows:
1. Select a topic: Find an interesting aspect of social life to
4. study and state the subject to be studied in clear
terms.
2. Review previous research: Go the library and the Web to find
out what research has been conducted on the
topic you have chosen, determine what was clarified, and how
the research will and can be used. Define theories
and concepts applicable to the research.
3. Make a plan: Determine how you will conduct your research,
including how much time and money will be
required to execute the plan and whether the plan can be
researched ethically.
4. Determine questions to ask: Focus on the questions to
answer, why they need to be answered, and then
answer them. Determine the theories to be used and the
assumptions to be tested during the research.
5. Select the correct research tools: Decide which research and
evaluation tools will be used (e.g., participant
observation or secondary data analysis) and the number of
people needed to execute the study.
6. Gather the data: The actual data collection period can take a
considerable length of time.
7. Interpret the data by using statistics: Was the hypotheses
proven or not?
8. Write up conclusions: Besides sharing the results with others
in professional journals or at meetings and
sharing generalizable insights gained from the research, the
research often goes farther: it can have implications
for policies and point to new areas of inquiry.
5. UMUC_SOCY100_Introduction to Sociology
Results of sociological research often provide a stimulus for
future research. Because of insights
gained, results can often be used to benefit others, to right
wrongs from previously
misunderstood data, or to change harmful practices.
Think about this…
If you wished to understand a social phenomenon, such as what
causes poverty,
what kind of research do you think would be necessary? What
would be the
advantages or disadvantages of asking a large number of people
a set of fixed
questions about poverty, or alternatively, of interviewing a
group of poor people by
asking open-ended questions?
