Theory & Methods in Social Science - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Theory & Methods in Social Science

a

brief

i

ntroduction

t

oSlide2

Social Science Research

Research

: the

systematic process of collecting and analysing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon with which we are concerned or

interestedSlide3

Social Science Research

Basic or Pure

Research:

aim

is to develop a body of general knowledge for the understanding of human social

behaviour

Applied

Research:

aim

is to provide knowledge and information that can be used to influence social

policy or evaluate a current social programSlide4

Theory & Methods

Theory:

A systematic explanation for observations that relate to a particular aspect of life

Method:

a particular

procedure

for accomplishing or approaching

something

REMEMBER

METHODS

are the ways we

collect

evidence/data

THEORIES

are how we

interpret

evidence/dataSlide5

“Theory without data is empty, but data without theory is blind

.”

-

C. Wright Mills, American sociologist, 1916 –

1962Slide6

Theoretical Approaches

Theoretical orientation:

general attitude about how cultural phenomena are to be

explained

Paradigm

: model or framework for understanding

(that is, theoretical orientation) that

shapes both what we see and how we understand itSlide7

Theoretical Approaches

Theoretical orientation = ParadigmSlide8

Theoretical Approaches:

Social Exchange Theory

Views society

as a series of interactions that are based on estimates of rewards and

punishments

Human beings

make social decisions based on perceived costs and

benefits Slide9

Theoretical Approaches:

Conflict Theory

Views social behavior as a process of conflict, the attempt of groups o dominate others and avoid being dominated

Often focuses on class, gender, and ethnic struggles but can be applied to any groups with competing interests

Example:

Michael

Chossudovsky’s

1997

analysis of International Monetary Fun and World BankSlide10

Theoretical Approaches:

Symbolic Interaction

Emphasizes how people behave based on what they believe and not just on what is objectively true

Addresses subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and

behaviors

Meanings are negotiated through use of language

Example: Teenage smokingSlide11

Theoretical Approaches:

Structural Functionalism

Also known as Social Systems Theory

A social entity (i.e. an organization or a whole society) is like an organism, made up of different parts all contributing to function of whole

Emphasizes interconnectedness of social

life –looks for “functions” served by different components of society

Example:

Émile

Durkheim’s analysis of deviant behavior’s function in societySlide12

Methods:

Survey Methods

Survey

research

collects data from subjects who respond to a series of questions about thoughts/feelings/behaviors

Includes

questionnaires

and

interviews

Strengths: Large sample sizes possible

Weaknesses: difficult to get responses, can tell us what people think/believe but not what they actually

do

Slide13

Methods:

Field Research

Refers to

gathering primary data from a natural environment without doing a lab experiment or a

survey

P

urpose

is to observe specific behaviors in

subject’s natural setting

Includes

participant observation, ethnography,

and the

case

study

Strengths: Yields detailed, accurate, real-to-life information

Weaknesses: Time consuming, difficult to objectively organize data, answers questions about

what

people do but not

whySlide14

Methods:

Experimental Methods

Classic

experiment

: Pre-testing and post-testing of experimental group and control group

Strength: Allows us to test for cause-and-effect relationships

Weaknesses: “

Hawthorne

Effect,” ethical concernsSlide15

Methods:

Unobtrusive Methods

Relies on secondary data sources such as reports, government records, newspapers, memoirs, letters, journals

Strengths: makes good use of already existing data

Weaknesses: can be difficult to find data sourcesSlide16

Qualitative & Quantitative Data

Quantitative:

data

that can be expressed in

numbers

b

ecause

the data is in a numeric form, we can apply statistical tests

including descriptive

statistics like the mean, median, and standard deviation,

and inferential

statistics like t-tests, ANOVAs, or multiple regression correlations

Qualitative:

describes the

qualities or characteristics of

something; cannot

easily reduce these descriptions to

numbers (sometimes can achieve with encoding)

Instead of statistical

analysis, researchers look for trends in the

dataSlide17

Which is more trustworthy for a study? Why?

Qualitative Research

Quantitative ResearchSlide18

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

-Mark Twain, American writer, 1835 - 1910 Slide19

"Women are paid 77 cents on the dollar for doing the same work as men."

-Barack Obama

June 21st, 2012 campaign adSlide20

Bureau of Labor Department stats

Median earnings of full-time female workers is 77% of the median earnings of full-time male workers….Slide21

A few considerations…

How many hours is “full-time?”

Anything between 35 and 80…

“Full-time” men average more hours

What is “the same work?”

Doesn’t differentiate between different occupations with income gaps like teacher/lawyer

Women are more likely to be in lower paying field such as education, social workSlide22

Does that statistic REALLY mean that a woman is paid LESS than a man doing the SAME kind of work?Slide23

Does that statistic REALLY mean that a woman is paid LESS than a man doing the SAME kind of work?

…or does it reflect that men work, on average, more hours per week in different, higher-paid fields?Slide24

Does that statistic REALLY mean that a woman is paid LESS than a man doing the SAME kind of work?

…or does it reflect that men work, on average, more hours per week in different, higher-paid fields?

…in any case we can’t be sure because the statistic is

not

based on a comparison of men and women doing the

same kind of work

for the

same number of hours

.Slide25

Qualitative & Quantitative Data

Quantitative:

Provides BREADTH

Qualitative:

Provides DEPTHSlide26

Battered Dogs Get More Empathy Than Battered AdultsSlide27

Battered Dogs Get More Empathy Than Battered Adults

What is the research question?

What methods were used?

What were the findings?

What theoretical approach was used in the interpretation of the findings?Slide28

Ethical Considerations

Voluntary participation

No harm to participants

Anonymity and confidentiality

Deception (debriefing)

Analysis and reporting

Institutional Review Boards

Professional Codes of EthicsSlide29

Summary

Social scientists utilize a variety of qualitative and quantitative

research methods

to collect data on social phenomena

no method is best, it depends on the research question to be answered

Theoretical orientations

provide a framework for interpreting the data collected by the various methods

many exist but are not necessarily contradictory, rather they offer different ways of examining the same phenomenon

Social scientists conduct both

pure research

(with the goal of simply expanding our knowledge ) and

applied research

(with the goal of addressing social problems and concerns)