Sociologists rely on a philosophy called positivism which asserts we can only gain authentic knowledge or truth through empirical observations. We must experience our observations and make scientific measurements through sensory experience rather than rely on faith-based and emotional experiences.
In this Unit, we study the six steps of the scientific method and the importance of reliability and validity. We also examine different data collection methods in sociology research, including surveys, field research, participant observation, ethnographies, case studies, experiments, and secondary data analysis. Each data collection method has advantages and disadvantages and is best matched with certain theoretical perspectives and questions. For example, a macro question about women in society would most likely use surveys as a research method since we need to sample a large group to get a representative picture.
Finally, we discover the historical motivation for ethical standards when conducting research. We explore some infamous cases where the scientists had adopted a questionable and disturbing ethical rationale, such as the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male conducted from 1932–1972, Stanley Milgram's obedience experiment in 1961, and Philp Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment in 1971. The negative ramifications of these experiments, including a prevailing lack of trust in the healthcare industry and research community, continue to this day.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 2 hours.
Sociology is the systematic study of society based on observations, not opinions. Sociology uses the scientific method to study our social world. This method begins with a testable hypothesis and, through observation tests and retests, the accuracy of the findings.
Read this text, which describes the scientific method and how sociologists use it in their research. Pay attention to the six steps of the scientific method and the importance of reliability and validity in scientific research. Why is it important for sociologists to use the scientific method to learn about our social world?
Watch this video for a real-world application of the scientific method in sociological research. Notice how scientists carefully progress through the steps of the scientific method when conducting research.
How do sociologists know what they know? Researchers use the scientific method to test various hypotheses through observation, and sociologists employ several methods for observing society. Here, we discuss the most commonly used data collection strategies and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
This text introduces four commonly used data collection methods in sociology: survey, field research, experiments, and secondary source analysis. Pay attention to the advantages and disadvantages of each method. How does your research question shape your data collection methods?
The history of the scientific method includes notorious examples of research subjects who were left unprotected and were overtly harmed. Sociologists are no different. We can point to many studies that incorporated controversial practices in the name of sociology research. These abuses of power have prompted government and professional agencies to impose standards that researchers must follow to protect the subjects in any research study.
Read this text, which explains why we need to employ principles of ethics in research. Pay attention to the American Sociological Association (ASA) guidelines for ethics and the infamous examples of the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male conducted from 1932–1972, Stanley Milgram's obedience experiment in 1961, and Philp Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment in 1971. Why is it essential for sociologists to practice the ASA ethical guidelines when conducting research?
Read this brief article on the importance of ethics in research. Pay attention to the history of ethics boards and the principles on which ethical research is based. Why did these standards need to be created?
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.