1. Ethnography
Ethnography is firsthand study
using interviews. In order to fully maximize the potential of this kind of research, an ethnographer must justify his/her presence to the group s/he is studying. S/he cannot enter the group without doing so.
Participant Observation
is a method connected to ethnographic study
in which the ethnographer takes part in the
activities of the group or community being studied.
What are the pros and cons of
ethnography and
participant observation?
2. Surveys
involve interviewing or administering questionnaires, or written surveys, to large numbers of people. The investigator analyzes the data obtained from surveys to learn about similarities, differences, and trends. He or she then makes predictions about the population being studied.
Three Types of Sociological
Research
When creating a research survey, what are some things you should consider?
- Sample size
- Types of questions used
- Types of responses available
- Wording of survey
Why is it important to consider these things?
Pros and Cons of Survey Research
Pros:
- Able to reach large numbers
- Respondents answer questions at their convenience
- An inexpensive method of data collection
Cons:
Volunteer bias - When the chosen sample of respondents does not represent the general population.
Interviewer Bias - When an interviewer's expectations, gestures, or involuntary responses influence the respondent.
Distortion - When a subject responds dishonestly.
3. Experiments
Experimental research attempts to determine how and why something happens. Experimental research tests the way in which an independent variable (the factor that the scientist manipulates) affects a dependent variable (the factor that the scientist observes).
Risks of Experimental Research
A number of factors can affect the outcome of any type of experimental research. One is finding samples that are random and representative of the population being studied. Another is experimenter bias, in which the researcher's expectations about what should or should not happen in the study sway the results. Still another is controlling for extraneous variables, such as room temperature or noise level, that may interfere with the results of the experiment. Only when the experimenter carefully controls for extraneous variables can she or he draw valid conclusions about the effects of specific variables on other variables.
Evaluating an Experiment
As you watch the following video of Jane Elliot's famous Eye Color experiment, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the experiment's sociological hypothesis?
- Is its hypothesis confirmed?
- What independent and dependent variables are in play?
- Can you identify experimenter bias or extraneous variables that may have influenced the experiment's outcome?
- Do you think the results of the experiment could be repeated? Why or why not?