Flashcards
Social Research Methods
Cards in this deck (36)
- 1Social Science Research- the process of learning about our world which includes: developing ideas/theories, making observations or collecting data, interpreting, explaining
- 2Sources of Knowledgemedia, authority, tradition, common sense, personal experience
- 3What is the main component of social science research?Peer Review
- 4Research is produced by a communiunity of scholars who- Train its members (PhDs)
- Set standards for how to be systematic:
..via peer review process of journals and abide by a set of ethical principles - 5ProcessSelect topic
Focus question
Design study
Collect data
Analyze data
Interpret data
Inform others - 6Part 1: IntroWhat is social research?
Why should we do social research? - 7Part II: What should we study?From topic to question
- 8Part IIIHow should we do quantitative research?
- 9Part IVHow should we do qualitative research?
- 10Social science can- give us a better understanding of social structures
- make an argument about another/ larger group based on unsystematic observations of a few members of that group - 11UnderstudyFocus on a specific slice
- 12OvergeneralizingStereotypes
- 13Selective Observation- Things previously observed, which affirm pre-existing views
- 14Devising a Research QuestionStep 1: Select topic
Step 2: Formulate a tentative research question
Step 3: Review prior research
Step 4: Revise Question
Step 5: Justify your research question
Step 6: Write up literature review - 15What is a good topic?Of sincere interest to you, direct experiences, about society you think we should care about
- 16What is a good question?Of sincere interest to you
About society, not an individual question that has no obvious answer - 17Research Paths-Linear and Nonlinear
-Based in part on type of data - 18The Hourglass Notion of ResearchBegin with broad questions
Narrow down, focus in
Operationalize
Observe
Analyze data
Reach conclusions
Generalize back to questions - 19Quantitative Research PathsLinear research path
Devise question BEFORE data collection begins
Questions tend to refer to specific factors or casual relationships
how much is there of X social phenomenon?
What % of X population has experienced y? - 20Qualitative Research PathsNon-linear research path
Questions often emerge during data collection
Question before research
Revisit during data collection
Questions are made more open ended - 21Who and What is Research for?EXPLORATORY research
Examines a new area to formulate more precise research questions
Valuable because helps us formulate more meaningful research
To conduct exploratory research
Start with inventory of what you “know” on topic
Devise open ended question(s) to guide your initial inquiry - 22Descriptive ResearchPresents a picture of a specific situation, social setting, or relationship
Occurs once precise questions are formulated
Valuable because it :
Enables us to avoid overgeneralizing
Often used to establish whether there are new trends
Helps us see what we might want to explain - 23Questions that are likely to lead to descriptive research?Is X changing/occurring?
How much/often/likely?
To what extent
What proportion of..?
What characterizes X?
When does X tend to occur?
Where does X tend to occur? - 24Explanatory Research“Identifies the sources of social behaviors, beliefs, conditions and events ”
Usually occurs after prior descriptive and/or exploratory research
Valuable
To help ensure we don’t repeat history
To address roots of social problems - 25Who will use the study?The scientific community (basic research)
Practitioners (Applied research) evaluation research
Seeks to evaluate the social effects of specific policies or programs.
Valuable because contributes directly to policy - 26Characteristics of action researchTends to include subjects in research process
Focuses on issues of social power
Seeks to raise awareness and shape movt/policy strategies. - 27Social Impact Assessment Research“Estimates the likely consequences of a planned intervention”
Valuable because may avoid wasting resources or incurring potential damage
how will x affect y? - 28step 1select topic
- 29step 2formulate a tentative research question
- 30step 3review prior research:
To refine your question
To prepare your justification of your question and research project
To prepare your literature review - 31step 4revise question
- 32step 5justify your research question
- 33step 6write a literature review
- 34How do you conduct a literature review?Identify relevant research in library catalogue
For books
Gov reports/documents
Identify relevant research in subscription databases
For book review
For review essays
For scholarly journal articles
Assemble an annotated bibliography (with abstracts) - 35What can you learn from an abstract?Question (s)
Justification for question (sometimes)
Type of data used (qual vs quant)
Research findings/main conclusions
Theoretical contribution - 36What can you NOT learn from an abstract?How does main conclusions compare to others
Suggestions regarding other worthwhile research
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- Flashcards on Social Research Methods, created by Dana Martinez on 20/02/2020.
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- Dana Martinez
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