Research Methods Study Guide PDF

Value Neutrality -​ The obligation to remain impartial while collecting, analyzing, and reporting results. -​ Reflexivity as a tool Ethical Concerns: The Tuskegee Experiment -​ Involved 600 individuals from an ethnic minority group in a rural community -​ Began in early 1930s and lasted...

Value Neutrality -​ The obligation to remain impartial while collecting, analyzing, and reporting results. -​ Reflexivity as a tool Ethical Concerns: The Tuskegee Experiment -​ Involved 600 individuals from an ethnic minority group in a rural community -​ Began in early 1930s and lasted for several decades -​ Aimed to observe the natural progression of a particular disease without intervention -​ Participants told they were receiving treatment but were not informed about the true purpose of the study or its rise -​ A new, effective treatment became available during the study. Deductive Approach -​ Theorize/hypothesize (general level of focus) → analyze data (analysis) → hypotheses supported or not (specific level of focus). -​ Hypothesis: socioeconomic status is correlated with educational attainment. -​ Collect & analyze survey data on socioeconomic patterns Inductive Approach -​ Gather data (specific level of focus) → Look for Patterns(analysis) → Develop Theory (general level of focus) -​ Begins by collecting data on latino 1% Analyzes patterns to develop a new theory on minority socioeconomic mobility Strengths of Each Approach -​ Inductive: ​ New phenomenon that is not well understood ​ Understudied topics  ​ Generate new theories -​ Deductive: ​ substantial body of word including theories ​ Testing specific Hypothesis Surveys: collect data from subjects who respond to a series of questions about behaviors and opinions, often in the form of a questionnaire. -​ Ex: US census is a population survey and they intend to get information from every single person. However, this is almost impossible and really expensive. Population vs. Samples -​ Population: a defined group serving as the subject of a study -​ Samples: are small, manageable number of subjects that represent the population -​ Random Sample: a study's participants being randomly selected to serve as a representation of a larger population 1936 Election: -​ Made incorrect predictions bc they sampled from wealthy individuals only Data Collection: -​ Primary Data: is data collected directly from firsthand experience -​ Secondary Data Analysis: using data collected by others but applying new interpretations. Qualitative Data Examples: -​ Ethnography: Observing a complete social setting and all that it entails -​ Interviews: one on one conversation between the researcher and the subject ​ Can range from very structured to semi-structured -​ Content Analysis: Applying a systemic approach to record and value information gleaned from secondary data as it relates to the study at hand. -​ Experimental Methods: the testing of a hypothesis under controlled conditions; lab-based experiments and natural or field experiments -​ Hawthorne Effect: when study subjects behave in a certain manner due to their awareness of being observed by a researcher ​ Managed by becoming a participant in their field. ​ EX: guy became an EMT to watch the people around him.