basic
terms:
data empirical variable
Data collection methods
A. observation
1. participant - researcher interacts
w/ persons studied
pro = access to behavior
con = may bias behavior observed
2. nonparticipant - researcher does
not interact w/ persons studied
pro = less influence/bias than
participant obs.
cons = still may bias behavior;
limited access to behavior
3. unobtrusive - consequences/ artifacts
of behavior
pro = doesn't influence behavior
cons = limited aspects of behavior;
context/ interpretation
B. interviewing
modes: questionnaires, face-to-face,
computer
overall pro = only way to study
some phenomena
overall con = forgetting, lying,
distortion, etc.
1. structured (surveys) - all asked
same questions in same way
pro = systematic, compare responses
across interviewees
con = may not gather all relevant
data
2. unstructured - questions vary by
interviewer, interviewee, & interview
pro = detailed & relevant
data
con = unsystematic
interviewees = respondents/ informants/subjects
ethnography = participant obs. +
interviewing
C. records/documents (archival)
pros = researcher doesn't influence/bias
data; possibly increased time depth
cons = data may already be biased/imperfect
for research
Research design issues
A. sampling - how were units of
study selected?
population, sample
generalizability/ representativeness
(random samples = best)
B. experimental vs. observational designs
1. experimental - researcher manipulates
a variable to test causal relationship (does X cause Y?)
-
random assignment of study units to
one or another group
-
practical & ethical limitations
to experiments
-
pre-post designs (assessing variable
before and after intervention) w/o control groups are not true experiments
2. observational (nonexperimental)
- researcher simply "observes" world
C. cross-sectional vs. longitudinal
-
cross-sectional = one point in time
-
longitudinal = same sample followed
over time
Defining social problems
Fuller and Myers (1941,
"The natural history of a social problem," American Sociological Review,
6, 320-329.):
"A social problem is a
condition which is defined by a considerable number of persons as a deviation
from some social norm which they cherish. Every social problem thus consists
of an objective condition and a subjective definition. The objective condition
is a verifiable situation which can be checked as to existence and magnitude
(proportions) by impartial and trained observers …. The subject defintion
is the awareness of certain individuals that the condition is a threat
to certain cherished values…. In the last analysis, social problems arise
and are sustained because people do not share the same common values and
objectives." (pp. 320-1)
Other basic issues:
-
social problems selected
= persistent & widespread
-
"construction" of social
problems (emphasis on subjectivity)
-
point of intervention: prevention,
treatment
-
intervening can have unintended
consequences
"The attempt to make heaven
on earth invariably produces hell."
- Karl Popper
-
many social problems are
interconnected
Summary
methods of data collection:
observation, interviews, archival records
research design issues:
sampling, experimental vs. observational, cross-sectional vs. longitudinal
basic issues related to
social problems:
definition, selection,
intervention
Fleisher, ch. 1:
-
weak research design with
which to evaluate his hypothesis (poor parenting leads to crime)