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The Scientific Method in Sociology

The Scientific Method in Sociology. The basic scientific method. Theoretical DEDUCTIVE Empirical INDUCTIVE Theoretic al. The basic scientific method. Theoretical Concepts DEDUCTIVE operationalization

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The Scientific Method in Sociology

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  1. The Scientific Method in Sociology

  2. The basic scientific method Theoretical DEDUCTIVE Empirical INDUCTIVE Theoretical

  3. The basic scientific method Theoretical Concepts DEDUCTIVE operationalization Empirical Variables & Attributes INDUCTIVE Theoretical Concepts

  4. The basic scientific method Theoretical Conceptsschool performance DEDUCTIVE operationalization Empirical Variables & Attributes Grades INDUCTIVE Theoretical Concepts ???????

  5. Durkheim.pptx

  6. Main types of Research Methods Used in Sociology • Surveys and Interviews • Observation / Participant Observation • Experiments • Secondary data analysis

  7. The basic scientific method Theoretical: Students probably have old cars because they’re young & don’t have a lot of money. Empirical: Systematically walk around parking garage and note year, make, and model of the cars. Observe that the cars in the student spots are much newer than those in the faculty slots. Theoretical: Revised theory?

  8. How might we use these methods to examine students’ extracurricular involvement at TU? • Surveys and Interviews • Observation / Participant Observation • Experiments • Secondary data analysis

  9. Ethics IRB- Institutional Review Board ASA- Code of Ethics GENERAL PRINCIPLES . • Professional Competence • Integrity • Professional and Scientific Responsibility • Respect for People's Rights, Dignity, and Diversity • Social Responsibility

  10. Ethical Challenges Two experiments on obedience to authority Milgram (1961) Zimbardo (1971)

  11. Milgram Researcher Research subject “teacher” With fake shock generator “student” who was supposedly receiving electric shocks

  12. The Milgram experiment • Researcher told research subject “teacher” to deliver increasing shocks when the “student” gave an incorrect answer. • How many of the 100 research subjects would obey and deliver what they thought was the maximum XXX shock to the “student”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr5cjyokVUs

  13. Results Research subject psychological injury Greater understanding of obedience Applications

  14. Zimbardo Prison Experiment • Mock prison at Stanford • 24 UGs randomly assigned to play prisoners and guards • 6x9 cells will 3 “prisoners” each- 24 hrs a day • “guards” on 8 hour shifts • Original term of experiment: 14 days • Actual term: 6 days http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ya1j_stanford-prison-experiment_news?search_algo=2

  15. Results • Abusive “guards” • Stressed and anxious “prisoners” • Dehumanizing and abusive interaction • Loss of clear notion that this was just an experiment • Ethical problems? • Ecological validity?

  16. Application to two cases Laud Humphreysand the Tearoom Trade Tuskegee Syphilis Study

  17. Questions 1) What was the goal of the research? 2) Which research methods were used? 3) Which, if any, ethics were violated? 4) Did the information learned justify the ethical violations? 5) Can you think of a more ethical way to get the same information?

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