In the present paper, the seven steps of the sociological research process are described. The steps include define the variables, write a hypothesis, conduct a literature review, select a research design, collect the data, analyze the data and draw conclusions.
Define the variables (dependent and independent variables; cause vs. correlation): Variables are defined when forming research questions. Researchers adopt an operational definition of a concept to identify its observable condition and then translate the concept into an observable variable. Examples of variables include race and ethnicity, gender, age, and social class. Studies aim to test the association between variables. Variables can be dependent or dependent. Independent variable influence dependent variables and cause them to change. For instance, in the Stanford Prison Experiment, researchers wanted to examine the effect of the perceived power of prison officers on prisoners’ behavior. The independent variable here is the perceived power of prison officers and the dependent variable is the prisoner behavior. Researchers examine variables to determine causation and correlation between variables. Correlation occurs if a change in a single variable coincides with a change in another variable, which does not necessarily demonstrate causation. Causation occurs only when there is a correlation between the dependent and independent variable, the independent variable is prior to the dependent variable, and no other intervening variable influences the causal association. The results of the Stanford experiment demonstrated a correlation between the perceived power of the guards and the behavior of prisoners. Prisoners accepted their roles because they thought that the guards were the highest hierarchy.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Write the hypothesis: a hypothesis is a statement regarding the relationship between two or more variables. Researchers aim to test whether a single variable influences another variable and they use a hypothesis to outline the nature of the association that they will test. For example, in the Durkheim study, the stated hypothesis was that people who feel lowly integrated into a group are more likely to commit suicide than those that do not feel lowly integrated into a group. The first variable in the hypothesis is social integration and the second variable suicide. Social integration is the independent variable and suicide is the dependent variable. A study based on this hypothesis will, thus, test whether social integration influence suicide. A hypothesis can involve variables concerning people, organizations, or geographical locations.
Conduct a literature review: conducting a literature review entails performing a background research by reviewing related or similar existing studies. This can be done by visiting the library or performing an online search using online libraries or databases to find existing studies about the research topic. Literature review broadens the understanding of a researcher regarding past studies on the research topic. It also assists researchers to build on past knowledge, avoid repeating past studies and improve their research question. A literature review also helps the research examine past study designs, previous data collection methods, and how variables were measured to enhance their individual study designs. After selecting the required studies and conducting the literature review, it is vital to cite the sources used.
Select a research design (observation, experiment, survey, case study, content analysis): researchers use different research methods, such as surveys, experiments, observation, case study and content analysis. Selecting a research design is a vital step in any study. For instance, the Tally Corner’s study researcher chose to engage in participant observation to examine participants. Researchers can select their design methods based on their study topic to collect data. Surveys and observations are used to collect qualitative data. Experiments are used to test social theories, for instance, the Stanford prison experiment sought to examine the psychological effects of perceived power with a focus on the struggle between prison officers and prisoners. Observations allow researchers to examine activities that occur naturally without imposing intrusive or artificial research tools on to the activity. Researchers can also use case studies to examine a specific event or person by studying existing sources such as archived records and documents. They may also perform interviews or engage in observation. Content analysis allows researchers to examine already finished work of other researchers, which may entail content composed by early sociologists, teachers, economists, or historians. An example of content analysis is when a researcher examines the United States Census data for a particular year.
Collect the data (do the research): data collection occurs after formulating a hypothesis, conducting a literature review, and selecting a research design. The selected research design will be used to collect data. Data collection entails doing the actual research either by requiring respondents to fill out questionnaires, engaging in participant observation in an actual environment, or interviewing participants. It can also involve performing an experiment or examining secondary documents to collect data. In the Stanford Prison Experiment, for example, data were collected by observing the prisoners’ behaviors using videotapes and an intercom system.
Analyze the data: after data collection, researchers must analyze it using different techniques. Data analysis entails examining the inaccuracy or accuracy of the study hypothesis in predicting an outcome. The objective of data analysis is to uncover vital patterns and themes in the data. The analysis must, however, be accurate. For example, the Milgram Experiment, data were analyzed through a bar graph.
Draw conclusions (generalizations and inferences): after analyzing data, the researcher will examine the study to see if the data analysis supports the tested hypothesis. The researcher will then draw a conclusion. Drawing a conclusion entails combining details or clues to make a decision. Conclusions may entail generalizations or inferences. Making an inference entails drawing conclusions from a study sample regarding the sampled population based on the gathered data, without going further. For example, In the Stanford Prison Experiment, the researcher inferred that the prison situation caused the behavior of participants. Generalization, on the other hand, entails drawing broad inferences from specific observations, for instance generalizing regarding a large population from a smaller sample. For example, in the Black Like Me study, the researcher generalized that Africans Americans engage in bad behaviors when they are mistreated to control their lives or to reduce their pain that they get from abuse. Those who abuse them hate them more because they regard those acts to be bad.
