Quantitative methods rely heavily on statistical and mathematical techniques to
study social behavior. The survey and controlled experiment are two popular
methods of quantitative analysis.
The survey is probably the most widely used method for gathering data. It may be
administered in person, over the telephone, or through the mail. For a survey to be
scientific, it must be directed at a population. Population refers to any group the
researcher is studying such as all college freshmen or residents of a particular city.
Since it is often impossible to survey every member of a population, researchers
sample a small number of cases and use them to represent the entire population.
Researchers attempt to obtain a representative sample rather than a large sample.
A representative sample of the United States, for example, would include about
the same proportion of Hispanics, African Americans, women, etc. as the whole
nation. If done successfully, this results in a sample which mirrors the population.
As a result, researchers can be confident that their conclusions from the sample are
generalizeable to the whole population. The most accurate method for assuring
generalizeability is to use random sampling. In this technique, everyone in the
population has an equal chance of being selected as a respondent.
An experiment is a method of researching the relationship between two or more
variables in controlled conditions. The first stage of an experiment is the pre-test in
which a sample is selected and surveyed to dismiss any which, for one reason or
another, are not appropriate for the study. In the second stage the researcher
randomly divided the participants (called subjects) into two groups. The
experimental group receives the “treatment” while the control group does not.
The third stage occurs after the treatment has been given and involves a post-test of
all of the subjects to assess the effect of the treatment. Sociologists rarely use
controlled experiments because it does not allow the study of social behavior under
natural conditions.
Concern for ethics in research developed after World War II. In several cases, the
good intentions of researchers resulted in severe emotional distress of subjects. In
response, the American Sociological Association has prepared a set of guidelines to
protect people involved in research. Under these guidelines the respondents must
remain completely anonymous and may quit whenever they wish. They must be
informed of the researcher’s institutional affiliation and the purpose of the research.
All academic research supported by the federal government must be reviewed by a
Human Subjects committee which guards the civil rights and well-being of the
participants.
SOCIOLOGISTS AND OTHERS IMPORTANT TO SOCIOLOGY
In addition to Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber, there are other
important people who contributed to sociology as it developed. Fill in the birth to
death dates of each of the following and briefly note the contributions of each of the
following:
Quantitative methods rely heavily on statistical and mathematical techniques to
study social behavior. The survey and controlled experiment are two popular
methods of quantitative analysis.
The survey is probably the most widely used method for gathering data. It may be
administered in person, over the telephone, or through the mail. For a survey to be
scientific, it must be directed at a population. Population refers to any group the
researcher is studying such as all college freshmen or residents of a particular city.
Since it is often impossible to survey every member of a population, researchers
sample a small number of cases and use them to represent the entire population.
Researchers attempt to obtain a representative sample rather than a large sample.
A representative sample of the United States, for example, would include about
the same proportion of Hispanics, African Americans, women, etc. as the whole
nation. If done successfully, this results in a sample which mirrors the population.
As a result, researchers can be confident that their conclusions from the sample are
generalizeable to the whole population. The most accurate method for assuring
generalizeability is to use random sampling. In this technique, everyone in the
population has an equal chance of being selected as a respondent.
An experiment is a method of researching the relationship between two or more
variables in controlled conditions. The first stage of an experiment is the pre-test in
which a sample is selected and surveyed to dismiss any which, for one reason or
another, are not appropriate for the study. In the second stage the researcher
randomly divided the participants (called subjects) into two groups. The
experimental group receives the “treatment” while the control group does not.
The third stage occurs after the treatment has been given and involves a post-test of
all of the subjects to assess the effect of the treatment. Sociologists rarely use
controlled experiments because it does not allow the study of social behavior under
natural conditions.
Concern for ethics in research developed after World War II. In several cases, the
good intentions of researchers resulted in severe emotional distress of subjects. In
response, the American Sociological Association has prepared a set of guidelines to
protect people involved in research. Under these guidelines the respondents must
remain completely anonymous and may quit whenever they wish. They must be
informed of the researcher’s institutional affiliation and the purpose of the research.
All academic research supported by the federal government must be reviewed by a
Human Subjects committee which guards the civil rights and well-being of the
participants.
SOCIOLOGISTS AND OTHERS IMPORTANT TO SOCIOLOGY
In addition to Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber, there are other
important people who contributed to sociology as it developed. Fill in the birth to
death dates of each of the following and briefly note the contributions of each of the
following:
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