Total = 23 slides1Sociology 201:Social Research Design29. Review of the CourseTotal = 23 slides2Experiments•Review deductive model--"traditional" model–Theory–Hypothesis–Operationalization–Hypothesis-testing•Vitamin C preventing coldsTotal = 23 slides3The Classical Experiment•Dependent variable [Prejudice against women]•Independent variable [Experiencing a successful woman]•Experimental and control groups–Randomization–Matching•Pre-testing and post-testing•Double-blind designTotal = 23 slides4Problems of Internal Invalidity• History– Something may happen in the outside world• Maturation– May get tired, bored, wiser, older, etc.• Testing– Hawthorne Effect• Instrumentation– Pre- and post- measurements may not be comparable• Statistical regression– Naturally drift away from extremes•• Selection biases– Control not comparable• Experimental mortality– People drop out• Causal time-order• Diffusion or imitation of treatments– ”Contamination”• Compensation– Feel sorry for controls• Compensatory rivalry– Controls may work harder• Demoralization– Controls may give upTotal = 23 slides5Problems of External Invalidity (generalizability to real world)• Interaction of Selection and Treatment– Generalize beyond the kind of people studied?• Interaction between Testing Situation and Treatment– eg, maybe the film only works when subjects under scrutiny• Interaction of History and Treatment–Would historical events disrupt the cause-effect?Total = 23 slides6Solomon Four-Group DesignPre-test(DV)(IV)ExperimentalGroupControlGroupPost-testStimulus(DV)ControlGroupExperimentalGroupLet’s assume DV is prejudiceTotal = 23 slides7Natural Experiments•Place an experimental template over naturally occurring events•Three Mile Island•Saturation BombingTotal = 23 slides8Survey Research•Intro to survey research•Ancient•Polls•CensusTotal = 23 slides9Question Construction•Remember rules for good questions•Contingency questions•Matrix questions–Be sure categories are appropriateWrite clear questionsNo negative termsAvoid biased termsNo double-barreled questionsYadda-yadda-yaddaTotal = 23 slides10Self-administered questionnaires•Stimulus-response assumption•Methods of distribution•Response rates lower•Good for sensitive issuesTotal = 23 slides11Interview Surveys•The role of the interviewer•General rules for interviewing–Appearance and demeanor–Familiarity with questionnaire–Follow question wording exactly–Record responses exactly–Probing for responsesTotal = 23 slides12Telephone Surveys•History–Not highly thought of at first–Hh expenses and refusals up–Now quite respectable•CATI–Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing–Random-digit dialingTotal = 23 slides13Secondary Analysis and Data Archives•Can reanalyze data collected for some other purpose•Data libraries•Now can get data over the WebTotal = 23 slides14Field Research•Go where the action is and observe it•A form of qualitative research–Quantitative and Qualitative data–Quantitative = numerical–Coding qualitative dataTotal = 23 slides15Advantages of quantitative•Specificity•Replicability•GeneralizabilityTotal = 23 slides16Advantages of qualitative•Flexibility•Degree of depth•GestaltTotal = 23 slides17Some techniques of field research•Sampling•Note-taking•Analyzing observations–Impact of computers• Obviously important to quantitative• Many uses for qualitativeTotal = 23 slides18Roles of the Researcher• Complete participant• Complete observer• Recall earlier discussions of the impact of the observer– Hawthorne effect– Hadley Cantril surveys on WWII– Recall discussion of when opinions are formed?•Point is that observer's impact is inevitable– Can affect the action as discussed above– What you look for is subjective– What you see is subjective– Your interpretations are subjective•Don't underestimate power of paradigmTotal = 23 slides19Unobtrusive research• Existing statistics– Sources of data– Problems of validity and reliability• Content analysis– Variety of recorded communications– Sampling (what’s the unit of analysis?)– Coding: manifest and/or latent content– Strengths and weaknesses• Historical/comparative– Old research technique: Weber, Marx, many others– Inexpensive and available to students– History of the History of ChapmanTotal = 23 slides20Evaluation research•Determine the effectiveness of interventions•Notice that we often don’t do it•When we do it, we often don’t implement results•Administrative and political complicationsTotal = 23 slides21Examples:•Drivers’ Education•Cost of living research•Capital punishmentTotal = 23 slides22What is the M word?•Measurement54321Total = 23 slides23Thank you for being in the course•Good luck on all your