M2 DB2: Sociological research Methods

Topic 2

Sociological Research Process

Social research comprises a large part of the activities and responsibilities of sociologists. In conducting research, sociologists able to discern, identify, and clarify the relationships among a plethora of social and economic factors in terms of issues such as crime, education, health, housing, labor, etc.

Hence, sociologists are often hired by academic, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to conduct research that many times has substantial policy implications (e.g., colleges and universities, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Center for Disease Control, etc.). Most sociologists go through extensive graduate training in order to conduct research that is rigorous and high quality, as social research follows a systematic and organized method.

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Define the problem:eDefine the Problem

When conducting social research, it is imperative that the problem being explored is specific and concise. For example, it would not be enough to simply state that, “I want to study teenage pregnancy.” To accurately examine the contributing and confounding factors of teen pregnancy, one may state the problem in a manner that is more detailed. For instance, one may say, “I would like to study the perceptions of pregnant teenage girls, between 15–17 years of age, residing within counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s County.”w the Literature

Cllecting the Data

Operationalize Definitions:

To increase specificity, one must define all concepts related to the topic of study. Using the teenage pregnancy issue, one must define what is considered a pregnant teenager. For instance, someone who is 19 years old is technically a teenager. However, that person is over 18, and therefore, legally considered an adult. So, you will not include someone who is 19 years old in your study sample.

Review the literature :

It is always necessary to review the literature, which reveals what has been studied on your subject of interest. For example, in the above study on teenage pregnancy, reviewing the literature will tell you what previous authors have identified as the root causes of teen pregnancy, what interventions are most effective within the teen age group, and who is considered most at-risk.

Formulate the Hypothesis :

A hypothesis is an educated guess. More specifically, it is a statement that reflects what you believe to be true based on your understanding of the subject matter. Still, one must conduct a study to determine if your stated perception of the issue is indeed real.

Identify Variables:

Variables used in a study can be independent or dependent variables. Independent Variables An independent variable in a study is not affected by other variables. For example, the age of a participant will not change because of other study variables, so it is independent. Dependent Variables A dependent variable can change, depending on other factors or variables. For example, income level may depend on education level as well as on the state of the economy. Therefore, income level can be a dependent variable in certain types of studies. Correlation Correlation reflects a relationship between two variables. A correlation is a number between -1 and 1. The closer the value is to -1 or 1, the stronger the relationship. However, if the value is closer to “0,” then it indicates a weak relationship.

Example The relationship between gender and driving ability would likely garner a score of approximately 0.2. This indicates a weak relationship.

Causal Logic Casual logic illustrates a relationship between two variables. However, a causal relationship is one that does not simply reflect an existing connection between two variables; it shows that one actually causes change in the other. Therefore, “x” must occur before “y.”

Example A person obtains a college degree (x) before entering the workforce and obtaining a job that allows them to earn a livable income (y).

Collecting the data:

Collecting the data includes:

· Sample Selection: A sample is a part of the universal population under study or investigation. It allows researchers to learn more about a population without studying the entire population, which often would not be feasible or possible. Samples can be:

· Random: A random sample comprises of individuals who each have an equal chance of being selected.

· Non-random: A non-random sample comprises of individuals purposely selected through the implementation of some criteria.

· Validity: The question or survey item measures the phenomenon it seeks to measure. If one wants to study income inequality, then it would be appropriate to ask questions such as, “What is your annual income?”

· Reliability: Reliability refers to the ability of a survey question or item to replicate the same result each time. For example, reliability will be achieved when study participants are asked, “In what city and state do you live?” rather than “Where do you live?”