Understanding Sociological Research Methods

Definition of Middle Class

• 87% of Americans identify as middle class (Pew Research Center, 2015).
• Common assumptions about the middle class may not capture the complete picture.

Role of Sociological Research

• Sociological research challenges personal assumptions about society.
• Utilizes systematic plans to gather and analyze observations instead of relying on intuitions.

Research Process in Sociology

1. Formulating a Research Question

• Begins with defining key concepts to prevent miscommunication (e.g., differing perceptions of 'poverty').

2. Stating a Hypothesis

• Hypothesis: A statement that predicts a relationship between two variables.
• Variables need to be defined and operationalized for measurement.
  • Example: Relationship status operationalized as 'reported marital status.'
• Categories of variables should be reliable and valid.

3. Measuring and Operationalizing Variables

• Consistency is required for reliable measurement.
• Valid measurement must directly reflect the studied concept (e.g., Facebook status for relationship status).
• Correlation does not imply causation (e.g., ice cream sales and murder rates influenced by a third variable: heat).

Data Collection Methods

1. Experiments

• Example: Moving to Opportunity study.
  • Participants assigned to control or experimental groups.
  • Assessed various outcomes like earnings, education, and health.
  • Found improved mental health in experimental group.

2. Surveys

• Utilized to gather data from a representative sample of a specific population.
• Challenges include question phrasing and potential biases.

3. Participant Observation

• Researchers immerse in communities to gather descriptive data (ethnography).
• Example: Alice Goffman’s study in Philadelphia.
• Offers insights that pure statistics can't provide.

4. Existing Resources

• Utilizes pre-existing data from government or other institutions.

Data Analysis Methods

Inductive Logical Thought

• Uses observations to build theories.

Deductive Logical Thought

• Tests hypotheses informed by existing theories.

Ethical Considerations

• Researchers must adhere to ethical guidelines and obtain informed consent.

Conclusion

• Sociological research method involves forming questions, stating hypotheses, collecting, and analyzing data to contribute to social theories.

Production and Support

• Mention of the production team and encouragement for Patreon support for continued free educational content.