SOCI 205 1nd Edition Lecture 4 Outline of Last Lecture I. Founders of sociologyII. Early American sociologistsIII. Theoretical perspectivesOutline of Current Lecture II. Research and theoryIII. Defining research methods IV. Causality vs correlationCurrent Lecture Research and Theoryo The scientific method provides a systematic, organized series of steps that insures maximum objectivity and consistency in researching a problem.  Provides a shared basis for discussion and analysis, and helps promote reliability and validity Defining research methodso Quantitative methods—seek to obtain information about the social world that is already in or can be converted to numeric formo Qualitative methods—attempt to collect information about the social world that cannot be readily converted to numeric formo Deductive approach—starts with a theory, forms a hypothesis, makes empirical observations and then works to form a theoryo Inductive approach—starts with empirical observations then works to form a theory Causality vs Correlationo Causality—a change in one factor results in a corresponding change in another factor To prove causation, correlation and time order are established and alternative explanations are ruled outo Correlation—variables related to each other, but perhaps only indirectlyThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. i.e. death rates are higher for people who have recently seen a doctor, but seeing a doctor does not cause death rates to riseo Reverse causality—researchers believe A causes B, when in fact B