SYA 4300 Methods of Social Research B Knop Midterm Exam Review Social Science vs Everyday Knowledge Different ways everyday knowledge fails us Overgeneralization unjustifiably conclude that what is true for some cases is true for all cases we make conclusions based on small samples of things Inaccurate Selective Observations choosing to believe only the things that are in line with our preferences In some cases our observations of the world are just simply wrong Illogical Reasoning premature conclusions on inaccurate or invalid assumptions jumping to conclusions assuming people feel certain emotions about something Example assuming someone feels guilty for eating certain foods Resistance to Change the resistance to change our ideas in the light of new information refuse to change opinion even when given evidence people gravitate to what is already believed Be able to explain and know what these mean Know what social scientists do to address these Social Science use of scientific methods to investigate individuals societies and social processes Social Research Methods Avoiding Errors in Reasoning Overgeneralization use systematic procedures for selecting individuals or groups to study Selective Inaccurate Observations require that we measure and sample phenomena systematically Illogical Reasoning use explicit criteria for identifying causes and for determining whether these criteria were met or not Resistance to Change excessive devotion to tradition or authority insist to see the evidence Types of Research the four most important goals of social research Descriptive Research describing something social phenomena are defined and described Example fewer people report spending time being social with neighbors than in the past Exploratory Research explore a certain group seeks to understand how people get along in the setting under question what do their actions mean What issues concern them Example how do athletic teams build player loyalty Explanatory Research identify cause and effect of social phenomena make predictions on how one phenomenon may change or vary in response to another phenomenon Example do people with higher education report better health More likely to be coming from a better socioeconomic background more education more likely to know how to take care of themselves and the best treatment options when sick Education level health Evaluation Research describes or identifies the impact of social policies or programs evaluates the policies and programs we have Example does abstinence only sex education work in preventing teen pregnancy and STDs o o o o o o Qualitative vs Quantitative Validity Quantitative Research focuses on numbers Qualitative Research focuses on analyzing interview transcripts live interactions in the real world and text books documents newspapers etc Is the research valid Measurement Validity are we measuring what we think we re measuring o Example I am interested in differences in the health of two social groups I measure health by asking how often they went to the doctor in the last three months Causal Validity does A really cause B Generalizability conclusions hold true for populations that were not directly studied o Sample Generalizability results based on a sample of a larger population holds true for the whole population o Cross population Generalizability results based on one population holds true for another population The Research Question Factors that make a good research question The Research Process Feasibility have to be able to do it study it is it possible to do this in the time you have and with the resources you have Socially Important why would people care about the topic why should we study this topic should shed light on a phenomenon that we feel is important in some way to society Scientifically Relevant need to be able to connect it to theories connect it to what other researchers have said but not a topic that we already know information about Conducting Social Research Research should connect theories and empirical data Deductive and Inductive Research o Deductive Research Start with a theory and then collect data starting with theory and testing some of its implications with data starting point is with theories Usually quantitative o Inductive Research Collect data and then to make sense of it you go find a theory collecting data and then developing a theory that explains it starting point is with collecting of the data Deductive Research Example Usually qualitative o Commitment and Personal Connection Theory If students know their professors well they will be more engaged in their work Smaller classes which allow more student teacher contact will lead to higher levels of engagement The Process Dependent and Independent Variables Independent Variable IV explaining something else the causal variables the ones that are causing differences in the outcome Dependent Variable DV the outcome of one variable depends at least to some extent on the variation of another variable Independent Variable Dependent Variable Positive and Negative Associations Positive Association an increase in the independent variable leads to an increase in the dependent variable Example independent variable teen pregnancy dependent variable Possible Independent Variables dropping out of school lack of father figure increase in price of contraceptives Example 2 higher level of education higher income o o Independent Variable Dependent Variable Positive Association Negative Association an increase in the independent variable leads to a decrease in the dependent variable o Example age and self reported health Independent Variable Dependent Variable Negative Association Research Design Level of Analysis Cross sectional taking a snapshot one time sample data that is only collected at one point in time Longitudinal survey the same sample multiple times better for saying if something causes something else data that is collected over time with the same sample allows you to see how individuals change over a period of time Level of Analysis the level of society at which you are collecting data from o Can be people families groups colleges states countries etc o Collect data from a particular level of society must draw conclusions about that specific level of society not a different level Ecological Fallacy incorrect conclusions inferences are made about individual level processes that are drawn from group level data Reductionist Fallacy incorrect conclusions