2.3 Asking And Answeing Sociological Questions Today: Research Methods

Question 1

Research methods

Answer 1

The diverse methods of investigation used to gather empirical (factual) material.

Many fields have one main method, modern sociology embraces a variety of methodologies

Question 2

Ethnography

Answer 2

The firsthand study of people using observation, in-depth interviewing, or both.

Ethnographers cannot simply be present in the group they study; they must explain and justify their presence to its members.

Question 3

Participant Observation

Answer 3

A method of research widely used in sociology and anthropology in which the researcher takes part in the activities of the group or community being studied

Question 4

Advantages of Fieldwork

Answer 4

Successful ethnography provides rich information on the behaviour of people in groups, as well as information on how these people understand their own behaviour.

Understanding a given group can also help us understand broader social processes

MICRO —> MACRO

Question 5

Limitations of Fieldwork

Answer 5

• Interpreting ethnologies usually involves problems of generalizability
• Only small groups can be studied
• Reliable results depend upon the researcher gaining the confidence of his or her subjects and maintaining an objective perspective
• Different researchers may draw different conclusions about the same group (role of positionality)

Question 6

Surveys

Answer 6

A method of sociological research in which questionnaires are administered to the population being studied.

Survey research produces information less detailed than that produced by an ethnography, but they can be generalized to the population as a whole.

Question 7

Population

Answer 7

The people who are the focus of social research

Question 8

Standardized or Fixed-Choice Questions

Answer 8

Only a fixed range of responses is possible for the subject.

Information collected is easy to count and compare, but it may also be restrictive

Question 9

Open-ended Questions

Answer 9

Provide more detailed information, but responses may be difficult to compare statistically

Question 10

Pilot Study

Answer 10

A trail run in research

Question 11

Advantages of Surveys

Answer 11

• Responses can be more easily quantified and analyzed than material from most other research methods
• Large numbers (N) of people can be studied
• Given sufficient funds, researchers can employ a specialized agency to collect responses (outsource data collection)

Question 12

Disadvantages of Surveys

Answer 12

• Surveys get high levels of non-response
• SOme published studies are based on results derived from partial samples
• People can experience survey research as intrusive and time-consuming
• Some people may fill in responses that they think are ‘desirable’ rather than what they think reflects their experience

Question 13

Experiment

Answer 13

A research method by which variables can be analyzed in a controlled and systematic way, either in an artificial situation constructed by the researcher or in a naturally occurring setting.

Question 14

Typical Experiement

Answer 14

People are randomly assigned to two groups:
- The experimental group receives some special attention based on the researcher’s theory.
- The control group does not receive this attention

Subjects usually do not know which group they have been assigned

Question 15

Advantages of Experiements

Answer 15

Researchers can test a hypothesis under highly controlled conditions established by the researcher

Question 16

Disadvantages of Experiments

Answer 16

• It is difficult to generalize the results of laboratory experiments to the larger society
• Researchers can bring only small groups into a laboratory setting (feasibility)
• People know they are being studied and may behave unnaturally

Question 17

Comparative Research

Answer 17

Research that compares one set of findings on one society with the same type of findings on other societies

Most comparative work is quantitative because a consistent metric is required to document whether behaviours and attitudes change over time and place