1Methods of Sociological InquiryZhen ZengUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonClass 1Human Inquiry and ScienceCourse Overview This course teaches the basics of social research methods --• How to formulate testable hypotheses• How to collect data• How to analyze data and draw conclusions• How to avoid logical pitfalls2Class Outline• Course Information• Learning about the Social World• The Foundations of Social ScienceTextbooks• Required texts:– Babbie, Earl. 2005. The Practice of Social Research (10th Edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.– Wysocki, Diane Kholos. 2004. Readings in Social Research Methods (2nd Edition).Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.• Additional readings (available at www.ssc.wisc.edu/~zzeng/soc357.htm)Course Requirements• Four exercises– Causal model– Quantitative data analysis– Sampling– Critical analysis of a journal article • Two tests– Multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions– Sample test questions available at course website• Class project – Paper (7 to 8 double-spaced pages)– Presentation3Contact Information• Office: 8107 Social Science• Office Hours: M W, 10-11• Website: www.ssc.wisc.edu/~zzeng/soc357.htm• Email: [email protected]• Phone: 262-4436Looking for RealityScientific knowledge must meet two criteria:• Logical support - must make sense• Empirical support - must not contradict actual observationFoundations of Social Science• Theory - logic• Data collection - observation• Data analysis - comparison of what is logically expected with what is actually observed4Errors in Inquiry and Solutions• Inaccurate observation• Overgeneralization• Selective observation• Illogical reasoningOver-Generalization and Selective ObservationOVERGENERALIZATION “Those people are never satisfied.”SELECTIVE OBSERVATION “Those people are never satisfied.”Example: Mistakes in Social ResearchVerbal AbilityMath AchievementHypothesis: Verbal ability has a causal effect on math achievement.5Observed Data from Two ClassesClassVerbalAverageMathAverageClassSizeMath 101 90 94 100Math 501 80 90 10What’s Wrong? 1. Small sample size2. Spurious correlation3. Selectivity bias4. Measurement problems5. Ecological fallacy6. Ceiling
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