Lecture 3

Sociology
Submission of Assignment 1
 Practice question

• The accumulation of wealth in multinational

corporations has caused a sharp rise in wealth
inequality on the global scale. However, it also
encourages the collective efforts to help save
the drowning economy of the weak with the
help of foreign aid, loans and investments.
• Discuss the social consequences of the above
situation in light of the contributions of Karl
Marx and Herbert Spencer.
Who were Comte, Spencer and
Durkheim?
 Sociological Research
Methods and Techniques

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 Sociology and Common Sense

• Sociologists view of situations is different

• Not based on majority’s opinion

• Scientific knowledge is based on evidence,

information we can verify with our data.
 Research Topics in Sociology

• Illiteracy

• Corruption and Indiscipline

• Education issues

What should be our starting point?

The Scientific Method

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 Define the problem
• Sociologists often begin the research process
by asking a question about how or why things
happen in this world.

• It might be a unique question about a new

trend or an old question about a common
aspect of life.
Literature review
 Hypothesis development
►Formulating the Hypothesis
– Hypothesis: testable statement about
relationship between two or more variables

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 Selecting a research design
• Sociologists use the following methods

– Surveys
– Experiments
– Participant Observations

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 Developing the Conclusion
●Supporting Hypotheses
– Sociological studies do not always generate data
that support the original hypothesis.

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Ideas for further research
Detail of methods
Study Techniques in Sociology
Causes of lack of tolerance in a
society
Class activity
Observation/Naturalistic Method
• Participants are carefully observed in their
natural setting

• Without interference by the researcher

• Without disclosing the identity of the

researcher

• Without changing the environment

 Limitations of Naturalistic Observation

This method is good if a researcher wants participants

to be reacting normally but:
1. it can be time consuming.
2. Subjectivity of the researcher may affect the
validity of the results.
3. Overgeneralization may occur.
 Experimental method
• In this method researcher systematically varies one or
more variables (independent variable) in
order to determine whether such changes influence
some aspect of behavior (dependent variable)

• Independent variable: The variable that is

systematically varied in an experiment

• Dependent variable: The variable that is measured in

an experiment
Solomon Asch conformity
experiment
• Solomon Asch wanted to test how much
people are influenced by others opinions in
the Asch Conformity Experiment
Survey Method
• Use to gather information from a large number
of people.

• Questionnaires are used for this purpose mostly.

• Adopt or Design questionnaire

• Sampling process
• Rigorous and accurate method

• Interview Technique

• Focus group interviews

Best method?
 Limitations of research methods
• Complexity of human behavior

• Different behavior at different circumstances

• Lack of Consistency

• Change in social patterns

Quiz 1 in the next class!

*Access to internet is important

Discussion on assignment 1 and final
project

(List of topics)