Sociology Research Methods: Crash Course Sociology

The video explores the concept of the middle class and how sociological research helps us understand societal patterns beyond personal intuition. It covers the importance of defining research questions and concepts, operationalizing variables, and ensuring reliability and validity. The video also discusses formulating hypotheses, understanding correlation versus causation, and various data collection methods. Ethical considerations in research and the use of existing data are highlighted, along with the application of inductive and deductive reasoning in developing theories.

What percentage of Americans identified themselves as middle class in the 2015 Pew Research Center survey?

• 75%

• 90%

• 65%

• 87%

Why is it important to define concepts clearly in sociological research?

• To ensure everyone has the same understanding

• To avoid using variables

• To make the research more complex

• To confuse the audience

What is the process of defining the exact variable to measure and how to measure it called?

• Hypothesizing

• Correlation

• Operationalization

• Causation

Which of the following is NOT a method of data collection in sociology?

• Experiments

• Surveys

• Participant Observation

• Astrology

What was a key finding from the Moving to Opportunity study?

• Vouchers improved mental health outcomes

• Vouchers had no effect

• Vouchers decreased education levels

• Vouchers increased crime rates

What is a major benefit of participant observation in sociological research?

• It is less time-consuming

• It provides insights into real-world behavior

• It is cheaper than other methods

• It requires no ethical considerations

What is the role of an institutional review board in sociological research?

• To ensure ethical standards are met

• To fund the research

• To collect data

• To publish the research