Notes:
| Quantitative Methods | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Analysis | Existing data is plentiful and study can be conducted quickly | Available data may not fit research questions |
| Surveys | Cost-effective and convenient | Inflexible design and potential low response rate |
| Experiments | More control over design and stronger validity and reliability | Inability to generalize data |
| Longitudinal Studies | Provides broad and detailed data |
Expensive and requires a multi-year commitment
|
Secondary analysis, is the use of data previously collected for other purpose.
the survey, a series of questions usesd to extract specific information from respondents.
| Qualitative Methods | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| In-depth Interviews | Ability to explore different angles and levels | Focuses on individuals and transcribing field notes can be time-consuming |
| Participant Observation | Unrestricting access to observe social behavior | Difficult to document details and can potentially be unethical |
| Focus Groups | Ease of implementation and quick results | Groupthink can occur and moderators can skew the results |
| Content Analysis | Does not involve human subjects and cost-effective | Researchers must “read between the lines” |
in depth interview, a one-on-one open-ended method that probes for deeper meaning and understanding of the responses od the interviewee.
Participation observation, also called participant observation, a method in which the researcher takes part in the social phenomenon being studied.
Ethnography, a descriptive account of social life and culture in a particulae social system erived from the researcher neing embedded over time within a group, organization, or community.
Focus group, a mall group interview or guided discussion usinf a moderator to gain insight into the participants\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’ opinions on specific topics.
groupthink, the tendency of group members to yield to the desire for ocnsensus rather than expressing individual or alternative ideas.
content analysis, a systematic method of assigning codes to text, video, music, and other media to analyze and infer patterns.
Sustainability, the idea that current and future generations should have equal or greater access to social, economic, and environmental resources, is a local, national, and international issue.
Data compiled from the General Social Survey (GSS), a national survey on contemporary American society to monitor and explain trends and constants in attitudes, behaviors, and attributes, can help us understand why Americans depend heavily on automobiles.
The experimental method consists of an experimental group, the study subjects exposed to the independent variable, and the control group, the study subjects who are not exposed to the independent variable and are used as a reference group.
time diary method, a research method in which subjects track their actions at various points in time over several days.
This phenomenon is part of the Hawthorne effect, the tendency of people to change their behavior when they know they are being watched.
these questions fall under the category of ethics, principles of conduct about how you are supposed to behave in a given situation. Ethics in sociology underwent a significant transformation in the 1970s after several research studies forced the discipline to consider the rights and protections of research subjects
In conjunction with other questionable research from the 1960s and 1970s, Humphreys’ tearoom study was instrumental in the American Sociological Association (ASA) establishing a code of ethics, a set of guidelines of appropriate behavior established by an organization for its members to follow.
To minimize some of the fallout of this study, Humphreys should have had a debriefing, a follow-up review of the research, for his subjects to gain insight into the conclusions drawn from the study.
One of the biggest issues in this regard is what Weber called value neutrality, also known as objectivity, the effort to eliminate bias from the research
sample of convenience, a research sample based on the ease of accessibility of the research subjects.
Functionalist Theory: The school and criminal justice systems are examples of large-scale social structures that a sociologist might research from a functionalist perspective to see how they contribute to maintaining society’s stability
Conflict Theory: Social inequality in socioeconomic status or race and ethnicity may play a role in boys’ differing crime rates. A sociologist who uses the conflict perspective would research this topic from the standpoint of competition and change.
Symbolic Interaction: Family and friends are often very involved in our everyday social lives and, as such, are an example of micro-level analysis. Therefore, symbolic interaction would consider the boys’ face-to-face interactions.
One of the most effective tools to help guide us through the individual and societal maze is the case study, an in-depth analysis of a particular person, place, or event over a significant period.
verstehen (vûrst e hen), an empathetic approach to understanding human behavior