Social Science Research Methods Quiz

• Social research aims to explore the social world, understand complexities, and generate knowledge for policy, practice, and future studies.
• It is a process where researchers combine theories and practices to produce knowledge, requiring ethical conduct, creativity, and clear communication.

Alternatives to Social Research and Their Limitations

• Authority: Knowledge from experts and media can be limited by bias, conflicting opinions, and potential misuse.
• Tradition: Knowledge passed down may be distorted, perpetuate stereotypes, and resist new evidence.
• Common Sense: Everyday reasoning can be prone to logical fallacies, contradictions, and cultural biases.
• Media Myths: Information from media can perpetuate stereotypes and create distorted perceptions due to entertainment focus.
• Personal Experience: Direct observations can be skewed by cognitive biases like overgeneralization and the halo effect.

How Different Knowledge Sources Address Vaccine Safety

• Authority: Doctors vouch for rigorous testing and safety protocols.
• Tradition: Historical success of vaccines in eradicating diseases since the 18th century.
• Common Sense: Presumption that pharmaceutical companies ensure vaccine safety due to financial investments.
• Media Myths: Dissemination of anti-vaccine rhetoric by celebrities and influencers.
• Personal Experience: Sharing of anecdotal experiences that may not represent broader trends.
• Scientific research involves empirical studies that debunk vaccine myths, emphasizing evidence-based conclusions and peer-reviewed research.

How Science Works

• Natural science studies the physical world.
• Social science studies human behavior and institutions.
• Science is a social institution created to produce knowledge through systematic inquiry and peer review.
• Quantitative data includes numerical data used for statistical analysis.
• Qualitative data includes non-numerical data offering in-depth insights.
• Empirical evidence is gathered through direct and indirect observations.

The Scientific Community

• Includes researchers, academic institutions, government bodies like Statistics Canada, and private sector organizations like Ipsos Canada.
• Emphasizes professionalism, ethical integrity, methodological rigor, diligence, and openness to scrutiny.

Steps in the Research Process

• Select topic: Identify a broad area of interest.
• Focus question: Narrow down to specific, researchable questions.
• Design study: Develop a detailed plan with methodology and data collection.
• Collect data: Gather empirical evidence systematically.
• Analyze data: Identify patterns and relationships.
• Interpret data: Draw conclusions based on the analysis.
• Inform others: Communicate results through reports and presentations.

Purpose of a Study

• Exploratory research investigates new topics to develop initial hypotheses. Example: Discovering emerging social trends like declining marriage rates.
• Descriptive research provides detailed accounts of social phenomena. Example: Documenting demographics of cohabiting couples
• Explanatory research seeks to understand the "why" behind social behaviors. Example: Analyzing why some couples choose cohabitation over marriage

Time Dimensions in Research

• Cross-sectional studies examine data at a single point in time for descriptive or correlational analysis.
• Longitudinal studies follow subjects over time to observe changes and trends.

Qualitative Data Collection Techniques

• In-depth, semi-structured interviews explore participants' experiences.
• Focus groups use facilitated discussions to explore collective views.
• Field research uses observation and ethnography in natural settings.
• Historical research analyzes past events to understand social change.
• Content analysis examines symbolic meaning in texts and media.

How Social Scientific Theory Works

• Explains recurring social patterns and general trends.
• Focuses on aggregates like groups and societies.
• Emphasizes probabilities and tendencies.

What is Theory?

• Social theory is a framework of ideas that organizes knowledge about the social world.
• Theories are developed, tested, and refined through research to explain social phenomena and predict outcomes.
• Theories are different from hunches because they are systematically developed and tested.

Direction of Theorizing

• Inductive approach starts with observations and develops theories from the data.
• Grounded theory begins with data, from which theories emerge.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Qualitative Approaches

• Advantage: Rich insights and gives voice to participants.
• Criticisms:
  • Subjectivity can influence interpretation.
  • Small samples limit generalization.
  • Context-specific findings are hard to replicate.
  • Labor-intensive data collection and analysis
  • Interpretive nature lacks transparency.
  • Challenges in ensuring consistency and objectivity/Validity and Reliability Issues

Introduction to Research Ethics

• Ethics involve concerns and dilemmas around proper research conduct.
• Ethical research balances knowledge advancement with participant rights/well-being.
• Research must be based on the integrity and moral responsibility of the researcher.

Why Be Ethical?

• Unethical behavior can result in public humiliation and career damage.
• Pressure for career advancement can lead to shortcuts.
• Ethical conduct builds trust and ensures credible results.

Scientific Misconduct

• Research fraud involves faking data.
• Plagiarism involves using others' work without credit.

Ethics and Legal Boundaries

• Actions may be legal but ethically wrong.
• Unequal power can lead to abuse requiring researchers to protect participants.

Ethical Issues Involving Research Participants

• Researchers need to avoid any unnecessary physical, psychological, or legal harm to participants.
• Researchers should also consider impacts on careers, reputations, and income.
• Researchers should aim to benefit society and advance knowledge.

Deception and Consent

• Participation must be voluntary.
• Deception is only permissible if vital, with debriefing afterward.

Informed Consent

• Participation should be voluntary and based on informed understanding.
• Key components include purpose, risks, anonymity, contact information, and right to withdraw.

Special Populations & New Inequalities

• Vulnerable groups include children, cognitively impaired individuals, and prisoners.
• Ethical safeguards include legal guardian consent.
• Limited coercion is acceptable if tied to educational goals, with alternative activities offered.

Privacy, Anonymity, and Confidentiality

• Privacy protection limits intrusion.
• Anonymity keeps participants nameless.
• Confidentiality protects identifiable information.
• Exceptions: Disclosure may be necessary for safety concerns like self-harm.

Respect for Human Dignity

• Core principle: Safeguard the interests and well-being of participants.
• Guides all ethical standards in Canadian research practices.

Basic Principles of Ethical Research

• Key guidelines:
  • Do not exploit or harm participants.
  • Only use deception when necessary, followed by debriefing.
  • Ensure informed consent.
  • Protect privacy.
  • Use appropriate methods and report results honestly.

Ethics and the Sponsors of Research

• Whistleblowing is reporting unethical practices within an organization.
• If a sponsor of a study is trying to influence the research process, this is considered sponsor influence
• Always disclose the true sponsor in published research.

Literature Review

• Examines previously published studies to prepare for a study or summarize the field.
• Sources include scholarly and peer-reviewed articles accessed through college libraries.

Defining and Refining a Topic

• Establish a focused research question.
• Integrate findings from existing studies.
• Refine based on insights gained from the literature review.

How to Read Journal Articles

• Abstract: Identify relevance.
• Conclusion: Review key findings.
• Detailed Reading: Analyze relevant articles.
• Literature Review Section: Locate studies cited.
• Theory Section: Understand theoretical orientations.
• Methods Section: Evaluate data collection and analysis.
• Discussion Section: Assess interpretation.
• Main Conclusions: Summarize findings.
• Citations: Explore related articles.

Writing the Review

• Synthesize purpose, questions, methods, variables, and findings.
• Paraphrase to maintain originality.
• Ensure proper citation.

Qualitative Orientation Towards Research

• Interpretive social science focuses on understanding phenomena.
• Non-linear path is circular and iterative.
• Cases and contexts examine specific situations in natural settings.
• Interpretations are influenced by historical contexts.
• Preplanned research is emergent.

Narrowing a Research Topic

• Identify general interest (e.g., visible minorities in Canada).
• Specify the context (e.g., education).
• Define a specific issue (e.g., Black Canadians in postsecondary education).

Typical Research Questions

• The questions usually concern the origin, maintenance, and change of social conditions.

Major Limitations in Research

• Time constraints
• Financial costs
• Limited access to resources
• Authority approvals
• Ethical considerations
• Researcher expertise

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

• Quantitative is linear, focuses on variables, and uses standardized procedures.
• Qualitative is non-linear, focuses on meaning, and uses flexible procedures.

Qualitative Design Issues

• Language of Cases and Contexts: Researchers focus on real-life cases/the context in which they occur.
• Critical Context: Understanding a phenomenon requires looking at the social, cultural, historical, or environmental factors surrounding it.
• Case and Process Focus: Qualitative research often emphasizes detailed case studies and the processes behind events.
• Interpretation: Emphasizes authentic representation of participants’ experiences

Qualitative Measurement

• Occurs during data collection.
• Data is abstract.
• Measurement concepts evolve during data collection.

Qualitative Conceptualization and Operationalization

• Conceptualization: Defining concepts in abstract terms (e.g., "Bullying").
• Operationalization: Linking concepts to measurement techniques (e.g., narratives).
• Inductive Approach: Starts with data, followed by ideas.

Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research

• Reliability: Focus on dependability; is hard to replicate across all circumstances
• Validity: Authenticity/Truthfulness, emphasizes fair representation of participants.

Sampling in Qualitative Research

• Samples highlight key social life features.
• Selection based on non-random methods.

Types of Nonprobability Samples

• Haphazard sampling: Convenient but prone to bias (e.g., street interviews).
• Quota sampling: Categorizes and selects fixed numbers. Diversity is not a critical consideration.
• Purposive sampling: Targets specific cases (e.g., hidden populations).
• Snowball sampling: Referrals from initial participants.
• Sequential sampling: Collects data until no new information emerges.

Measurement in Qualitative Research

• Conceptualization: Defines concepts abstractly.
• Operationalization: Develops procedures to measure concepts in context.
• Inductive Process: Data collection informs ongoing measurement development.

Ensuring Reliability and Validity

• Reliability: Consistent data recording, though replication is hard.
• Validity: Focus on authenticity and conveying insider perspectives.

Key Sampling Methods Explained

• Haphazard sampling is easy but often unrepresentative.
• Quota sampling ensures specific demographic representation.
• Purposive sampling selects unique cases for insights.
• Snowball sampling is great for interconnected individuals.
• Sequential sampling continues until data saturation.

Test your knowledge of social science research methods. Questions cover topics such as characteristics of science, quantitative vs. qualitative data, the scientific method, types of research studies, ethical considerations, and the inductive approach.