THE STAGES OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

1.The problem to be studied is reduced to a testable hypothesis

2.An appropriate set of instruments are developed (e.g. Questionnaire, Interview schedule, etc.)
3.The data are collected
4.The data are analyzed for their bearing in the initial hypothesis
5.Results of analysis are interpreted and communicated to an audience (eg. Lecture, journal,
publications)

Association and Correlation

CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP -he values of one variable are believed to actually produce the different
values of the other variable “BECAUSE”

NON- CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP OR CORRELATIONAL - relationships of variables where there are

identifiable patterns but there is no reason to believe that one variable directly causes the
measurements of the other variable.

Discrete and Continuous Variables

Discrete Variables - can take on only a finite number of values ( e.g 34 students, 3 days, 5 lectures)
Continuous Variables- can theoretically take on all numeric values
- assuming that we can use precise measuring instruments capable of
measuring the values with ever increasing precision, it can take a number of different values (e.g height
of a person, kilos of rice, liters of water)
Categories of Statistical Analyses

1.Number of variables being analyzed

Univariate Analyses -examine the distribution of value categories (for nominal or ordinal level data) and
values (for interval/ratio level data) for a single variable

Bivariate analyses-examine the relationship between two variables e.g. correlation between gender and
income

Multivariate analyses -examine the relationship among three or more variables