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Social Science Research Methods. Preparing for your culminating assignment. The Social Science Inquiry Model. Questions Focus Formulate a Hypothesis Collect Data Assemble and Analyze Data Stop and Check Present Results Reflection. Social Science Inquiry Model.
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Social Science Research Methods Preparing for your culminating assignment
The Social Science Inquiry Model • Questions • Focus • Formulate a Hypothesis • Collect Data • Assemble and Analyze Data • Stop and Check • Present Results • Reflection
Social Science Inquiry Model • Questions: begin with questions about a topic that interests you, that can be answered through investigation. Create a central research question • Focus: Take notes about what you already know and research what has been previously learned.
Inquiry Method • Hypothesis: Turn your question into a hypothesis • Collect Data: select the research method that will provide the most relevant information to confirm your hypothesis • Assemble and Analyze Data: organize your data into charts, graphs or another format that communicates your main ideas
Social Science Inquiry Model • Stop and Check: Have you collected enough data? • Present results: Draw conclusions, identify any limitations of your research, and make recommendations for next steps. • Reflection: Reflect and evaluate your research process and results.
What is a hypothesis? • A possible answer or educated guess to a social science problem; an assumption that guides the search for an answer to a problem • Can be in the “If…then” format • Ex. If teenagers buy lunch in a group, then they are more likely to conform to the majority food choice. • Can be a statement • Ex. Individual development is mainly determined by genetics or heredity.
A good hypothesis is… • A clear answer to the problem • It must be an answer that summarizes a definitive view and that is supported by arguments and evidence • Ex. Unsupervised television watching has a harmful effect on children’s attitudes towards sex and violence • Ex. Television has a positive educational impact on young children
A bad hypothesis is… • Not an answer • A problem or question, not a n answer • An unclear answer that cannot be proven • Ex. Children watch hours of violence on tv • Ex. Is television making children into consumers for big business? • Ex. TV has an interesting impact on young children everywhere