Research Methods and Society Foundations of Social Inquiry

by Dorsten, Linda Eberst; Hotchkiss, Lawrence

• ISBN13: 9780130926548
• ISBN10: 013092654X
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780205879915
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-10-22
• Publisher: Pearson
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Designed to help readers acquire basic skills in the methods of social science research, this book contains excerpts from professional journal articles, scholarly books, and popular press. It uses a straightforward writing style to present essential information, without eliminating key concepts, tools, and their applications. Concrete, everyday examples and "hands-on" practice activities reinforce fundamental concepts that will be useful in future careers and life.Chapter topics cover foundations of social research; variables and measurement; designing social research; indirect methods; surveys; populations, samples and sampling; preparing the data and basic data analysis; preparing the report; and applying principles of science learning to everyday learning.For a better understanding of the research findings presented to us in magazines, newspapers, television reports, and elsewhere.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Introducing Social Research	1	(13)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	1	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	1	(1)
Success in Everyday Learning: Three Examples	1	(2)
Fixing a Meal	2	(1)
How Late Is ``Late for Work''?	2	(1)
``Why Can't Some People Understand?''	2	(1)
Three Published Examples---and One More	3	(4)
Excerpt: Drugs on Campus	3	(1)
Excerpt: Prostitutes in Jail?	4	(1)
Excerpt: Proximity of Schools and Use of Contraceptives	5	(1)
One More Example: ``Sticky Theory''	6	(1)
Sizing Up Everyday Learning and Science Learning	7	(7)
Summary	9	(1)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	10	(1)
Study Terms	10	(1)
Exercises	11	(1)
Exercise 1.1. Examining Everyday Learning: Observation in a Crowded Room	11	(1)
Exercise 1.2. Examining Everyday Learning: Using a Control	12	(1)
Exercise 1.3. Evaluation of Research: Overgeneralization	12	(1)
A Follow-up Exercise	13	(1)
Doing Social Research: An Overview of this Textbook	14	(29)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	14	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	15	(1)
Strategies of Social Research	15	(1)
Basic Research	15	(1)
Excerpt: Maternal Education and Child Health: A Strong Causal Relationship?	16	(1)
Applied Research	16	(2)
Excerpt: Evaluation of a Pregnancy-Prevention Program for Teenagers	17	(1)
Overview of Chapter 3: Foundations of Social Research	18	(2)
Common Sense, Theory, and Science	18	(2)
Overview of Chapter 4: Variables and Measurement	20	(1)
Overview of Chapter 5: Designing Social Research	21	(2)
The Logic of Experiments	22	(1)
Overview of Chapters 6--8: Methods of Data Collection	23	(5)
Observation and Ethnography	23	(1)
Indirect Methods	24	(1)
Surveys	25	(1)
Multiple Methods	26	(1)
Excerpt: Sex Differences in Complexity of Children's Play	27	(1)
Overview of Chapter 9: Population and Samples	28	(1)
Probability and Nonprobability Samples	28	(1)
Overview of Chapters 10 and 11: Data Analysis	29	(1)
Overview of Chapter 12: Preparing the Report	29	(2)
Overview of Chapter 13: Applying Principles of ``Science Learning'' to Everyday Learning	31	(1)
Ethical Issues in Research	32	(11)
The Belmont Report	32	(2)
Practical Dilemmas	34	(1)
Summary	35	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Asked in this Chapter	37	(1)
End Notes	38	(1)
Study Terms	38	(3)
Exercises	41	(1)
Exercise 2.1. Writing Research Questions for Quantitative Research	41	(1)
Exercise 2.2. Evaluation of Research: Multiple Methods	41	(1)
Exercise 2.3. Advanced Evaluation	42	(1)
Foundations of Social Research	43	(24)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	43	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	43	(1)
Everyday Knowledge and Relationships (Statistical, Not Love)	44	(2)
Basic Concepts: Variables, Observations, and Relationships	46	(3)
Variables	46	(2)
Observations and Relationships	48	(1)
The Concept of Causal Law	49	(2)
Universal Rules and Specific Instances	50	(1)
Scientific Approach	51	(16)
Skepticism and ``Sticky Theory''	52	(1)
Spurious Relationships and Their Control	53	(1)
Scientific Theory	54	(3)
Serendipity and Scientific Discovery	57	(1)
Science as Public Knowledge	58	(1)
Qualitative Science and Causal Laws	59	(1)
Summary	60	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	62	(1)
End Notes	62	(1)
Study Terms	63	(1)
Exercises	64	(1)
Exercise 3.1. Operationalizing Concepts	64	(1)
Exercise 3.2. Evaluating Hypotheses	65	(1)
Exercise 3.3. Evaluation of Research: Testing the Relationship between Variables	65	(2)
Variables and Measurement	67	(22)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	67	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	68	(1)
Example: Attitudes toward Self and Success in School	68	(2)
Excerpt: A Study of Self-Esteem and Grades	68	(2)
The Nature of Measurement	70	(3)
Excerpt: Physician Assessments or Patient Self-Report of Patient's Health?	70	(1)
Indicators, Items, and Indexes	71	(1)
Classification of Variables	71	(2)
Measurement Error	73	(7)
The Correlation Coefficient	74	(2)
Evaluating Validity	76	(2)
Assessing Reliability	78	(2)
Theory, Data Analysis, and Measurement	80	(9)
Excerpt: Linking Theory and Measurement---Mothers' Jobs and Child Care Arrangements	80	(1)
Summary	81	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	83	(1)
Study Terms	84	(2)
End Notes	86	(1)
Exercises	87	(1)
Exercise 4.1. Specifying Variables	87	(1)
Exercise 4.2. Developing Hypotheses	87	(1)
Exercise 4.3. Evaluation of Research: Linking Theory and Measurement	87	(2)
Designing and Social Research	89	(33)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	89	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	90	(1)
Three Examples: One Contrived, Two Real	90	(6)
A Contrived Little Experiment	90	(2)
A Field Experiment: Does Having a Job Reduce Crime?	92	(2)
A Nonexperimental Study: Do Schools Determine Sexual Norms?	94	(1)
``What if . . . ?'': A Controlled Experiment of Schools and First Coitus	95	(1)
Research Designs and Threats to Valid Inference	96	(6)
Basic Concepts	96	(2)
Five Basic Designs	98	(4)
Threats to Valid Causal Inference	102	(20)
Threats to Internal Validity	103	(7)
Threats to External Validity	110	(4)
Summary	114	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	116	(1)
End Notes	116	(1)
Study Terms	117	(2)
Exercises	119	(1)
Exercise 5.1. Developing a Nonrandomized Experiment	119	(1)
Exercise 5.2. Developing a Randomized Experiment: Posttest-Only Control-Group Design	119	(1)
Exercise 5.3. Developing and Conducting a Field Experiment	120	(2)
Observation and Ethnography	122	(30)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	122	(2)
Goals of This Chapter	123	(1)
An Overview of Qualitative/Descriptive Research	124	(6)
An Example: Observation in Disaster Research	125	(4)
Selecting the Site and the Subjects	129	(1)
Methods of Data Collection	130	(5)
Researcher as Ethnographer: In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio	130	(2)
Researcher as Participant Observer: Everyday Life in Nursing Homes	132	(1)
Researcher as Nonparticipant Observer: An Unobtrusive Study of Arousal--Attraction	133	(2)
Checking Reliability and Validity	135	(2)
Recording Field Data	137	(1)
Analyzing Field Data	137	(2)
Writing Up the Results	139	(2)
Integrating Data Collection, Interpretation, and Writing	140	(1)
Capturing Meaning and Perspectives: Tell Them Who I Am	141	(1)
Ethical Issues in Ethnographic/Observational Research	141	(2)
Reflections on Observation and Ethnographic Methods	143	(9)
Excerpt: A Qualitative Study of Slums and Families	143	(1)
Summary	144	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	146	(1)
End Notes	146	(1)
Study Terms	146	(1)
Exercises	147	(1)
Exercise 6.1. Participant Observation of a Familiar Group: Unannounced and Announced	147	(2)
Exercise 6.2. Nonparticipant Observation of an Unfamiliar Group	149	(1)
Exercise 6.3. Evaluating Research: Participant Observation	150	(1)
Exercise 6.4. Evaluating Research: Nonparticipant Observation	151	(1)
Indirect Methods	152	(22)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	152	(2)
Sex after Death as a Research Topic?	152	(2)
Goals of This Chapter	154	(1)
Sources of Data	154	(8)
Contemporary Records	154	(3)
Historical and Archival Data	157	(3)
Physical Trace Data	160	(2)
Indirect Methods of Data Collection	162	(3)
Unobtrusive Observation	162	(1)
Content Analysis	163	(2)
Reliability and Validity of Indirect Methods	165	(1)
Advantages and Limitations of Indirect Methods	165	(9)
Advantages	165	(1)
Limitations	166	(1)
Summary	166	(1)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	167	(1)
End Notes	167	(1)
Study Terms	167	(1)
Exercises	168	(1)
Exercise 7.1. Content Analysis: Gender Advertisements	168	(2)
Exercise 7.2. Unobtrusive Analysis: Studying Campus Dorm Windows	170	(1)
Exercise 7.3. Evaluation of Research: Historical Analysis	171	(1)
Exercise 7.4. E-Project: Social Aspects of E-Mail	171	(3)
Surveys	174	(36)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	174	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	175	(1)
Three Familiar Types of Surveys and a Newer One	175	(11)
Personal Interview	175	(4)
Telephone Interview	179	(2)
Mail Questionnaire	181	(2)
Internet Surveys	183	(3)
Constructing the Survey Instrument	186	(6)
Selecting Questions	186	(1)
Structure of Questions	186	(1)
Composing Questions	187	(5)
Layout of a Questionnaire	192	(5)
Question Sequencing	193	(3)
A Brief Guide to Interviewing	196	(1)
Pretesting the Survey	197	(1)
Conducting the Survey	197	(2)
Legitimizing the Survey	197	(1)
Follow-up, Follow-up, Follow-up . . .	198	(1)
Limitations and Importance of Survey Research	199	(1)
Limitations	199	(1)
Surveys and Theory	200	(10)
Excerpt: A Study of Parental Occupation and Attitudes toward Child Rearing	200	(1)
Summary	201	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	203	(1)
End Notes	203	(1)
Study Terms	204	(1)
Exercises	205	(1)
Exercise 8.1. Writing Questions	205	(1)
Exercise 8.2. Unstructured Interviewing	206	(1)
Exercise 8.3. Semistructured Interviewing	207	(1)
Exercise 8.4. Evaluation of Research: Personal Interview	208	(1)
Exercise 8.5. Evaluation of Research: Telephone Interview	208	(1)
Exercise 8.6. Evaluation of Research: Mail Questionnaire	209	(1)
Population, Samples, and Sampling	210	(35)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	210	(1)
A Sampling Riddle	210	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	211	(1)
Why Not Study Everyone?	211	(1)
Basic Concepts	212	(2)
The Sampling Distribution	214	(13)
A Simple Fish Example: Goldie and Friends	214	(2)
How Does Sample Size Affect the Sampling Distribution?	216	(2)
Variance and Standard Deviation	218	(1)
Extending the Fish Example: The Central Limit Theorem	219	(2)
Applying the Sampling Distribution	221	(6)
Types of Samples	227	(18)
Probability Sample	227	(3)
Nonprobability Samples	230	(4)
Summary	234	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	236	(1)
End Notes	237	(1)
Study Terms	237	(3)
Exercises	240	(1)
Exercise 9.1. Taking an SRS (without Replacement)	240	(1)
Exercise 9.2. Stratified Random Sample	241	(1)
Exercise 9.3. SRS and the Sampling Distribution	242	(1)
Exercise 9.4. Evaluation of Research: Nonprobability Sample	243	(2)
Data Preparation and Basic Analysis	245	(24)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	245	(2)
Goals of This Chapter	246	(1)
Data Matrix	247	(3)
Univariate Statistics	250	(1)
Bivariate Table	251	(6)
Tally Sheet	252	(1)
Percentage Calculation	253	(3)
Arranging Variables in a Table	256	(1)
Preparing the Data for Analysis	257	(12)
Coding the Data	257	(1)
Cleaning the Data	258	(1)
Data Transformations: Creating New Variables, Modifying Codes	259	(1)
Summary	260	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	262	(1)
End Notes	262	(1)
Study Terms	263	(1)
Exercises	264	(1)
Exercise 10.1. Univariate Analysis 1	264	(2)
Exercise 10.2. Univariate Analysis 2	266	(1)
Exercise 10.3. Preparing a Bivariate Table	267	(1)
Exercise 10.4. Evaluation of Research: Univariate Analysis	267	(2)
Data Analysis 2: Describing, Explaining, and Evaluating	269	(26)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	269	(2)
Goals of This Chapter	271	(1)
The Trivariate Table: Adding a ``Control'' Variable	271	(6)
Hit, Gender, and Alcohol	272	(1)
Hit, Gender, and Age	273	(2)
Classifying Three-Variable Relationships	275	(2)
Limitations of Cross-Tabulation	277	(1)
Additional Analysis Methods	277	(6)
Bivariate Table of Means	277	(1)
More about Elaboration	278	(1)
Regression Analysis	279	(4)
More About Statistical Tests	283	(12)
Chi-Square Test for Cross-Tabulations	283	(1)
T-Test and F-Test for Comparing Means	284	(1)
T-Test and F-Test for Regression	285	(1)
Summary	286	(1)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	287	(1)
End Notes	287	(1)
Study Terms	288	(2)
Exercises	290	(1)
Exercise 11.1. Preparing a Trivariate Table	290	(1)
Exercise 11.2. Reading a Percentage Table	291	(1)
Exercise 11.3. Using the General Social Survey to Study ``Ever Hit'' and Gender	291	(1)
Exercise 11.4. Coding Data, Preparing Data Tables, and Evaluating ``Substantive Significance''	292	(1)
Exercise 11.5. Advanced Evaluation	293	(2)
Preparing the Report	295	(23)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	295	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	295	(1)
Research Reports: Four Examples	296	(11)
Journal Articles and Similar Papers	296	(4)
Evaluation Reports	300	(2)
Monographs and Books	302	(1)
Government Reports	303	(2)
Other Forms of Reports	305	(2)
A Brief Guide to Report Writing	307	(11)
Getting Started---and Following Through	307	(2)
Components of a Qualitative Report	309	(1)
Components of a Quantitative Report	310	(1)
The Class or Professional Conference Presentation	311	(1)
Summary	312	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	314	(1)
End Notes	314	(1)
Study Terms	314	(1)
Exercises	315	(1)
Exercise 12.1. Writing a Research Report Using Quantitative Data	315	(1)
Exercise 12.2. WebProject: Locating Online Journals	316	(2)
Applying Principles of ``Science Learning'' to Everyday Learning	318	(21)
Introduction: Looking at How the Social World Works	318	(1)
Goals of This Chapter	319	(1)
Steroids in Baseball	319	(4)
Prevalence of Steroid Use	320	(2)
Dangers of Steroid Use	322	(1)
GBL (Gamma-Butyrolactone)	323	(1)
Ponce de Leon and the ``Fountain of Youth'': Hormone Therapy and Women's Health	324	(3)
The Women's Health Initiative Study	325	(2)
Games of Chance and ``Overdue'' Events	327	(2)
Car Reliability	329	(10)
Summary	330	(2)
Your Review Sheet: Questions Discussed in this Chapter	332	(1)
Study Terms	332	(1)
End Notes	333	(1)
Exercises	333	(1)
Exercise 13.1. The Critical Consumer---Issue 1	333	(1)
Exercise 13.2. The Critical Consumer---Issue 2	334	(1)
Exercise 13.3. The Critical Consumer---Issue 3	335	(1)
Exercise 13.4. The Critical Consumer---Issue 4: Independent Peer Review in Everyday Learning	335	(2)
Exercise 13.5. Batting Slumps and Hot Streaks	337	(1)
Exercise 13.6. Batter Up!	338	(1)
Appendix A Code of Ethics	339	(5)
American Sociological Association Code of Ethics	339	(2)
General Principles	340	(1)
Code of Ethics of the American Anthropological Association	341	(3)
Appendix B Random Numbers Table	344	(2)
Appendix C Introduction to the General Social Survey (GSS)	346	(9)
Survey Content	347	(1)
Student Papers	348	(1)
GSS Data	349	(1)
GSS Web Site	350	(5)
Glossary	355	(20)
References	375	(10)
Index	385