Lecture on Social Research Methods

Introduction

• Presenter: Armin Trost, Professor for Organizational Behavior at Furtwangen University, Germany.
• Course Focus: Social Research Methods.
• Background: Previously taught Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management.

Key Concepts

• Research:
  • Aim to find the truth.
  • Involves scientific processes to discover facts.
  • Methods are necessary to uncover the truth.
• Methods:
  • Serve as tools or vehicles to discover truth.
  • Include statistics, research design, data collection, questionnaire testing, observation, and content analysis.
  • Must be used systematically.
• Social:
  • Refers to human behavior in social contexts.
  • Includes interpersonal behavior within groups and societies.
  • Focuses on understanding human behavior objectively.

Importance of Systematic Understanding

• Social research aims for systematic, objective understanding beyond common sense and personal intuitions.
• Illustrates the need for evidence-based insights as opposed to anecdotal advice.

Examples of Misinterpretations in Research

1. Reading and Longevity: The claim that "people who read live longer."

   • Variables: Reading (cause) and Life Expectancy (effect).
   • Issues with measurement, potential third variables like social status influencing results.

2. Internet Usage and Depression: "Excessive internet usage leads to depression."

   • Variables: Internet Usage (cause) and Depression (effect).
   • Complications in defining and measuring depression and internet usage.
   • Possible influence of social factors like loneliness.

3. Unemployment and Life Expectancy: "Unemployment leads to lower life expectancy."

   • Challenges in conducting experiments.
   • Recognition that unemployment may lead to several negative life conditions affecting life expectancy.

4. Caffeine Consumption and Sexual Potency: "Caffeine negatively affects men's sexual potency."

   • Need to consider other lifestyle factors and health habits, such as stress and substance use.

Learning Objectives

• Develop a critical perspective on research findings.
• Learn appropriate research designs, statistical analyses, and measurement techniques.
• Understand the difficulty of establishing causal relationships between variables (internal validity).

Conclusion

• Aim to overcome naivety in interpreting research findings.
• Importance of proper research design and methodology for valid conclusions.
• Next session will explore the essential nature of social research.