Research Methods How do we know what we think we know?

Basic and Applied Sociology

Research Circle

Operationalization & Concepts

Choice of Method

Doing Research - Surveys Surveys - ask a series of questions. You would need to select a sample - the target group you are wanting to study. The sample should reflect the population . You want to construct a random sample - where everyone in your population has the same chance of being included in your study.

Surveys - ask a series of questions.

You would need to select a sample - the target group you are wanting to study.

The sample should reflect the population .

You want to construct a random sample - where everyone in your population has the same chance of being included in your study.

Marriage, Money and Happiness Research by Ted Goertzel Undergraduate student at Rutgers University, Camden NJ Spring, 2004 AN EXAMPLE OF RESEARCH:

My Research Questions Are married people happier than single people? If so, does this relationship hold up if I control for age and income?

Are married people happier than single people?

If so, does this relationship hold up if I control for age and income?

Data Source The data are from the 1998 General Social Survey N = 2832 Stratified Random Sample was used Results represent the U.S. population accurately

The data are from the 1998 General Social Survey

N = 2832

Stratified Random Sample was used

Results represent the U.S. population accurately

Dependent Variable There is only one dependent variable to be explained: overall happiness. To measure it, interviewers asked the following question: Taken all together, how would you say things are these days? Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?

There is only one dependent variable to be explained: overall happiness. To measure it, interviewers asked the following question:

Taken all together, how would you say things are these days? Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?

Independent Variables MARITAL – Are you currently – married, divorced, separated or have you never been married? INCOME – In which of these groups did your total family income from all sources fall last year, before taxes that is? less than $22,500 $22,500 to $49,999 $50,000 plus OVER50 : Respondent’s Age is Under 50 Years or Over 50 Years

MARITAL – Are you currently – married, divorced, separated or have you never been married?

INCOME – In which of these groups did your total family income from all sources fall last year, before taxes that is?

less than $22,500

$22,500 to $49,999

$50,000 plus

OVER50 : Respondent’s Age is Under 50 Years or Over 50 Years

Percent “Very Happy” 18.3% 23.2% 43.5% Never Married Divorced/ Widowed Married

Marital Status and Happiness Married people are much happier than those who are widowed or divorced, or who never married. This relationship is statistically significant at the .000 level by chi-square test. However, divorced and widowed people are likely to be older than average, and this might effect their happiness. Therefore, examine happiness for people in the same age group

Married people are much happier than those who are widowed or divorced, or who never married.

This relationship is statistically significant at the .000 level by chi-square test.

However, divorced and widowed people are likely to be older than average, and this might effect their happiness.

Therefore, examine happiness for people in the same age group

Percent “Very Happy” for respondents under 50 years old 19.9% 19.5% 41.7% Never Married Divorced/ Widowed Married

Marital Status and Happiness for those under 50 years of age The results for those under 50 are very similar to those for the sample as a whole. Marriage seems to be related to happiness for younger people But perhaps this is due to income. Married people might have a larger family income which may make them happier Therefore, check to see if income is related to happiness.

The results for those under 50 are very similar to those for the sample as a whole.

Marriage seems to be related to happiness for younger people

But perhaps this is due to income. Married people might have a larger family income which may make them happier

Therefore, check to see if income is related to happiness.

Percent “Very Happy” 42.0% 29.7% 22.2% Income over $50,000 Income $22,500 to $49,999 Income under $22,500

Money and Happiness The data show that people with a family income above $50,000 are much happier than those with lower incomes. The causal relationships are ambiguous Marriage may have led to both a higher income and happiness. How can we test whether the happiness is due to marriage or to income? Look at happiness for married, divorced, and single people who all have high incomes.

The data show that people with a family income above $50,000 are much happier than those with lower incomes.

The causal relationships are ambiguous

Marriage may have led to both a higher income and happiness.

How can we test whether the happiness is due to marriage or to income?

Look at happiness for married, divorced, and single people who all have high incomes.

Marriage and Happiness for people with a family income above $50,000 a year 22.2% 30% 47.6% Never Married Divorced/ Widowed Married

Conclusion Even among those with a high income, married people are much happier This suggests that marriage brings both a higher family income and happiness The relationship between income and happiness may be spurious

Even among those with a high income, married people are much happier

This suggests that marriage brings both a higher family income and happiness

The relationship between income and happiness may be spurious

Doing Research - Participant Observation In Participant Observation - the researcher participates in a research setting while observing what is happening. Unobtrusive measures - when researchers observe people who do not know they are being studied. Examples include outcomes surveys and content analysis.

In Participant Observation - the researcher participates in a research setting while observing what is happening.

Unobtrusive measures - when researchers observe people who do not know they are being studied. Examples include outcomes surveys and content analysis.

Doing Research -Experiments In doing experiments, you randomly divide subjects into two groups. (1) the experimental group - those exposed to the independent variable (something that causes a change) (2) the control group - those not exposed to the independent variable.

In doing experiments, you randomly divide subjects into two groups.

(1) the experimental group - those exposed to the independent variable (something that causes a change)

(2) the control group - those not exposed to the independent variable.

Experimental Procedure –Randomization, Comparison Groups, Independent Variable

Ethics in Sociological Research Ethics require openness, honesty, and truth. Ethics condemns plagiarism. Research participants should not be harmed. Some sociologists consider research to be value free – Others recognize that subjectivity is inevitable Both agree that bias must be minimized.

Ethics require openness, honesty, and truth.

Ethics condemns plagiarism.

Research participants should not be harmed.

Some sociologists consider research to be value free –

Others recognize that subjectivity is inevitable

Both agree that bias must be minimized.