Research Methods in Social Science

Research Methods

• Deductive Method: Utilizes existing theories to guide research and test them through data analysis
• Inductive Method: Develops new theories based on analyzing gathered research data
• Logic and observation: Foundation of scientific research in social science. Understanding these elements is vital for successful research.
• Ethics: The choice of paradigm for research can significantly impact the outcome. While it's unethical to manipulate the research for desired results, researchers aiming for social change often adopt a paradigm that aligns with their goal. This presents the risk of bias, but it can be mitigated by:
  • Social science research techniques: Methods of observation and analysis help reduce bias and ensure objectivity
  • Collaborative research: Multiple researchers studying the same phenomenon, using diverse paradigms, theories, and methods, minimize the likelihood of biased findings.

Social Science Paradigms

• A paradigm is a fundamental model or scheme that shapes our understanding of a topic.
• Macro Theory: Focuses on the large-scale structures and features of society.
• Micro Theory: Focuses on smaller units or features of society.
• Positivistic Paradigm: Assumes that societal rules can be identified using scientific methods.
• Conflict Paradigm: Examines power struggles and dominance dynamics between individuals and groups.
• Symbolic Interactionist Paradigm: Studies how shared meanings and social patterns emerge through social interaction.
• Ethnomethodology: Investigates how people make sense of their experiences in their everyday lives.
• Structural Functionalist Paradigm: Analyzes the functions of various societal elements in maintaining the overall system.
• Feminist Paradigms: Highlight the oppression of women in society and challenge traditional perspectives that reinforce male experiences.
• Critical Race Theory: Explores the disadvantages faced by specific racial groups and offers alternative viewpoints on society.

Theories and Research

• Traditional science often follows a linear path: theory - operationalization - observation.
• Social science research employs two logical methods:
  • Deduction: Deriving expectations or hypotheses from existing theories.
  • Induction: Formulating theories based on collected observations.
• The subjective nature of social science concepts can impact reliability, leading to different interpretations of how they apply to specific situations.
• Qualitative: Qualitative research often uses methods like field research, emphasizing in-depth understanding of individual experiences.
• Quantitative: Quantitative research focuses on precise measurement and analysis, commonly utilizing surveys and experiments.

Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement

• These interconnected processes bridge the gap between general research ideas and concrete, measurable variables in real-world situations.
• Conceptions: Mental representations summarizing related observations and experiences.
• Concepts: Agreed-upon meanings assigned to terms, representing constructs that do not exist physically but can be measured through their observable aspects.
• Conceptualization: Defining a concept's meaning specifically for a research study, including its dimensions and indicators.
• Operational Definitions: Specifying how to measure variables related to a concept.
• Precision of definitions: Crucial for descriptive studies, but the required level varies depending on the research purpose and design.

Sampling Methods

• History: Sampling techniques originated alongside political polling.
• Sampling Frame: A list of individuals included in the potential sample.
• Quota Sampling: A nonprobability sampling method selecting participants based on known population characteristics (e.g., gender, income).
• Two Types of Sampling:
  • Nonprobability Sampling: Selection methods not based on probability theory, often used in qualitative studies.
    • Reliance on Available Subjects: Haphazard sampling using readily accessible individuals, prone to bias.
    • Purposive or Judgmental Sampling: Selecting participants based on researcher knowledge of the population and study objectives.
    • Snowball Sampling: Recruiting participants based on recommendations from existing participants.
    • Quota Sampling: Selecting participants to match the proportions of specific characteristics present in the population.
  • Probability Sampling: Selection methods where each individual has an equal chance of being selected.
    • Random Selection: Ensures unbiased representation of the population and facilitates statistical error estimation.
    • Sampling Unit: The element or group of elements chosen for selection in sampling.
    • Probability Theory: Mathematical framework allowing researchers to estimate population parameters and sampling error.
• Statistics: Summary descriptions of variables within a sample, used to estimate population parameters.
• Parameters: Summary descriptions of a variable across the entire population.
• Sampling Distribution: The distribution of sample statistics derived from numerous independent random samples from a single population.

Explore the fundamental research methods used in social science, including deductive and inductive approaches. Understand the importance of logic, observation, and ethics in conducting unbiased research. This quiz covers techniques for ensuring objectivity through collaborative research and proper methodology.