SOCI 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Hawthorne Works, Scientific Method, Statistical Hypothesis Testing
12 Oct 2016
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The scientific method involves developing and testing theories about the world based on empirical evidence: defined by its commitment to systematic observation of the empirical world and strives to be objective, critical, skeptical, and logical, steps. Report results: wa(cid:374)t to (cid:373)a(cid:454)i(cid:373)ize the stud(cid:455)"s relia(cid:271)ilit(cid:455) (cid:894)ho(cid:449) likely research results are to be replicated if the study is reproduced) Topic should be narrow enough to study within a geography and timeframe. Topic should be broad enough to have universal merit. Sociologists develop an operation definition: define the concept in terms of the physical or concrete steps it takes to objectively measure it. Identifies an observable condition of the concept: research existing sources. Review of any existing similar or related studies. Helps to gain broad understanding of work previously conducted on the topic at hand. Enables them to position their own research to build on prior knowledge: formulate a hypothesis. Assumption about how two or more variables are related.
