IntroductiontoSocialScienceResearch：社会科学研究介绍.ppt

Introduction to Social Science Research,Today we will discuss:,Overview of the Course Overview of Varieties Social Research Characteristics of Three Research Methods Surveys Experiments Qualitative Studies The Science of Social Research Role of Theory Wallaces Model Inductive Deductive The Goals of Research,Overview of Course,Review of Syllabus Requirements Course Outline Course Web Page Using the Computer/Network,Varieties of Social Research,What studies have you read or heard about? Three major methods: Surveys Interview Self-administered Experiments Types of experiments True or Laboratory Experiments Field or Natural Experiment Qualitative Research Ethnographies (understanding a group) Observations Participant Observation Intensive Interviews,Characteristics of Three Major Methods,Surveys Typically focus on some population-sampling Seeks responses to set items Purpose can be descriptive or explanatory Experiments Seek to measure response to stimulus Controlled by researcher Purpose is explanatory Qualitative Research Interpretive Focus on everyday life Messiness or openness to design Purpose Exploratory Descriptive Explanatory,Social Research as Science,Empirical Based upon observed evidence Rational and logical system of rules Accepted methodology and analysis Precise language Clear definitions Rational arguments Replicable,Scientific Characteristics of Social Research,Rules of Scientific Observations,Observations are precise and accurate Measures are developed according to rules of correspondence between definitions and observations (validity and reliability) Scientific observations record variations of a phenomenon (variables) Scientific observations must record variations consistently over repeated observation,Variables are recorded measurements of observed variation of specific phenomenon,Major Steps in Goal of Social Science Research,The ultimate goal of research is to build explanatory theory. This is accomplished through Observation Relating different observation/ Independent variables Dependent variables Testing hypotheses Revising or developing