Sociology Chapter 2: Asking and Answering Sociological Questions

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Questions and Answers

What is a pilot study?

A trial run in which just a few people participate to reveal problems with a survey.

What are some advantages of surveys?

People may be more likely to answer embarrassing questions (correct)

Easily tabulated and correlated (correct)

Quick (correct)

Gives people time to think before answering questions (correct)

No interviewer bias (correct)

No geographical restriction (correct)

Cheap (correct)

What is a major disadvantage of surveys related to the response rate?

Poor response rate

Experimental studies allow researchers to test hypotheses under controlled conditions.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

Unintended influence of observers or experiments on subjects making them change their behavior because they know they are being studied. Signup and view all the answers

On average, men have a higher tolerance for both pain and temperature extremes than women.

False Signup and view all the answers

Children who grow up without siblings are no worse off than their counterparts with siblings when it comes to developing good social skills.

True Signup and view all the answers

Couples who live together before marriage are usually more satisfied with their marriages than couples who did not live together before marriage.

False Signup and view all the answers

What type of questions give us information about what, who, and how?

Factual questions Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothesis?

A tentative assumption that speculates the relationship between two or more variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Operational Definitions in a hypothesis?

Precise ways to measure the variables Signup and view all the answers

What are the key steps involved in the research process?

Make the problem precise (Hypothesis) Signup and view all the answers

What should researchers do after gathering information according to the research process?

Analyze the data, track trends, and test hypotheses Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Ethnography in research?

Studying everyday routines and relationships within a group Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of conducting surveys in research?

Produces information that can be generalized to the population Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Asking and Answering Sociological Questions

Sociological research involves asking questions, defining problems, and seeking answers through systematic research processes.

Sociological Research and Common Sense

Sociologists move beyond common sense to investigate and provide insights into how human societies function.
Common sense can be misguided, and sociological research can contradict or confirm prevailing notions about social life.

What is a Valid Sociological Topic?

Sociologists study a wide range of topics, including broad matters like race relations, the military, and the global economic crisis, as well as individualistic matters like how people interact on street corners.
Sociologists study various groups of people, from nuns and prostitutes to cops and criminals.

Sociological questions examine the social meaning or patterns of a phenomenon, involving groups rather than individuals.
Examples of sociological questions include:
- Does treatment for HIV vary by social class and ethnicity?
- How do different cultures view and treat the elderly?

Different Types of Questions

Factual questions provide information about what, who, and how.
Comparative questions examine patterns among groups and ask "how usual is this?"
Theoretical questions explore the nature of relationships between variables.

Sociological Research as a Scientific Endeavor

Sociological research involves:
- Systematic method
- Empirical investigation
- Data analysis
- Theoretical thinking
- Logical assessment of argument

Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Quantitative research uses numerical data and is often used in surveys and experiments.
Qualitative research uses non-numerical data and is often used in observations and informal interviews.

Inference, Generalization, Reliability, and Validity

Inference involves drawing conclusions about a larger population based on a sample.
Generalization increases the likelihood that what happens to one person will happen to all people in a group.
Reliability increases the likelihood of consistent results.
Validity ensures that the study measures what it is designed to measure.

The Uncertainty Principle

The conclusions of all scientific research, including sociology, are uncertain.
Researchers must be clear about all the sources of uncertainty in their study.

Reflexivity

Reflexivity is the acknowledgement of the researcher's role in the social scene they are studying.
This includes power dynamics among subjects and the influence of personal values or identity on the research.

The Research Process

Step 1: Ask a question and define the problem
Step 2: Review the literature
Step 3: Make the problem precise (formulate a hypothesis)
Step 4: Work out a design
Step 5: Interpret the results
Step 6: Report the findings

Historical Context

In the 1920s, American sociology became more committed to grounding concepts and theories in facts and data.
Two influential figures in this movement were Robert Park and William Ogburn.

Robert Park

Park believed that sociologists should conduct firsthand research and gather data through observation and interviews.
He advocated for getting out into the field and wearing out one's shoe leather to discover the truth.

William Ogburn

Ogburn believed that sociology should be a science, focused on discovering new knowledge.
He wanted sociology to use numerical data and be more like the natural sciences.

Research Methods

Fieldwork (ethnography) and survey methods are commonly used in sociology.
Ethnography involves firsthand studies of people using observations, interviews, or both.
Survey methods involve collecting data through questionnaires or interviews.

Limitations of Ethnography

Personal bias can be difficult to control.
The presence of the observer may influence the behavior of the group.
It may be difficult to generalize findings to a larger population.### Sociological Research Methods
Participant observation: a research method where the researcher immerses themselves in the group or community being studied to gain a deeper understanding of their behavior and relationships.

Disadvantages of Participant Observation

Difficulty in gaining acceptance from the group being studied
Difficulty in recording information as it occurs, with important details potentially being forgotten
Legal or moral problems, such as being expected to behave in a way that is illegal or contrary to the researcher's values
Ethical implications, such as lying to maintain cover
Time-consuming and costly, potentially disrupting the researcher's normal lifestyle
Results may not be generalizable to other groups or populations

Advantages of Ethnography

Useful for studying groups that are difficult to access through other methods
Allows for a deeper understanding of relationships within the group and the researcher's point of view
Enables the study of everyday routines and the identification of factors that may not be immediately apparent
Allows for the discovery of unexpected factors
Enables the recording of non-verbal communication

Surveys

A quantitative research method that involves asking subjects to provide answers to structured questionnaires
Can be used to study large groups of people and provide generalizable results
Often used to study attitudes, opinions, and behaviors

Types of Survey Questions

Standardized or closed-ended questions: respondents are asked to select an answer from a list provided by the researcher
Open-ended questions: respondents are asked to provide their own answers in their own words

Pilot Studies

A small-scale trial of a survey to test its validity and identify any potential problems
Helps to identify issues with the questionnaire and ensure that it is effective in gathering the desired data

Advantages of Surveys

Quick and inexpensive to administer
Easily tabulated and correlated
No interviewer bias
Gives respondents time to think before answering
May be more likely to get honest answers to embarrassing questions
No geographical restrictions, can be administered to people all over the world

Disadvantages of Surveys

Poor response rate, potentially leading to unrepresentative results
Questions may be misinterpreted, with no opportunity for clarification
Limited opportunity for respondents to elaborate on their answers

Experiments

A research method that involves manipulating an independent variable and measuring its effect on a dependent variable
Used to test hypotheses and establish cause-and-effect relationships
Can be used in a laboratory or field setting

Advantages of Experiments

Allow for the testing of hypotheses in a controlled and systematic way
Enable the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships

Disadvantages of Experiments

May not be able to generalize results to real-life situations
Artificial laboratory setting may not accurately reflect real-life situations
Subjects may behave unnaturally due to the awareness of being studied

Hawthorne Effect

The unintended influence of observers or experiments on subjects
People may change their behavior because they know they are being watched as part of a study

Comparative Historical Research

A research method that involves comparing data from different societies or time periods
Used to identify patterns and trends, and to develop explanations of social change

Examples of Comparative Historical Research

Theda Skocpol's study of social revolutions in France, Russia, and China
Andreas Wimmer's study of war as a sociological phenomenon, using large datasets and statistical techniques

Unanswered Questions

How can social research avoid exploitation of research subjects?
Can social research be truly scientific, given the complexity and uniqueness of human behavior?

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of sociological research, including the steps of the research process, types of questions, and historical context of sociology as a science. Learn about Park's and Ogburn's visions and their influence on contemporary research.