Why It Matters

Explain the ways in which empirical research is used to study the social world and construct a mock research proposal/plan by selecting and justifying the use of specific methodologies based on a given topic/question

INTRODUCTION

Why do sociologists conduct research?

Sociologists conduct research because many things (electoral votes, for example) depend on the number of people in the country and in each state. We conduct a census to count our citizens every 10 years. Without an accurate count, we would only be guessing how many people live in any one state. In sociology, we theorize as to the causes and effects of any number of phenomena, but we can also conduct research to test theories or explore certain groups to learn more about phenomena in regards to which no theories exist. The more we learn from people directly experiencing a set of circumstances (or whatever else is being researched), the more accurately we can discuss the state of our society and track trends of social change.

And why should we care about the results?

The results of sociological research can help us learn about the experiences of others. They can help us contextualize our own experiences, which we may have previously felt were exclusive to ourselves rather than widespread occurrences.

Simply put, properly conducted ethical research can tell us about what is going on in different parts of our society, from the most general to the most specific. Whether you find it compelling to read out of interest or whether you intend to use it to help find solutions to social problems, social research matters.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Compare and contrast “common sense” assumptions with scientifically tested knowledge about the social world
  • Construct appropriate (i.e., empirical) sociological questions
  • Identify and describe different types of research and research methods, discussing the benefits and limitations of each
  • Identify appropriate sources of information and discuss the findings of a research article that contains original sociological research
  • Evaluate research in terms of validity, reliability, and ethical considerations

Okay, let’s get started!