Methods in Context

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  • Created by: 09holconh
  • Created on: 24-05-18 08:42

Experiments

What are experiments? 

Main method of natural sciences. Key feature the researcher has a high degree of contol over the situation. Identify all of the variables which might affect the outcome of the situation studied. By manipulating variables can discover cause and effect relationships. 

Two kinds of experiment: Lab experiment and Field experiements. 

Lab experiment: give more control over variables, but is more artificial. Field experiements take place in 'real world' situations, so are more true to life but researchers cannot control all the variables. 

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Positivist and Interpretivists: Lab experiments

Lab Experiments: 

Positivists: argue there is a measurable objective social reality 'out there'. They take a scientific approach using standardised methods,to obtain quantitative data, because these allow them to make generalisations about the research population and to analyse cause and effect relationships.

They regard experiements (esp. Lab) very reliable because they are replicable, so previous findings can be confirmed. They also meet the requirement that data should be quantitative and scientifically connected. 

Interpretivists: look to the meanings behind why the 'social actor' behaves and why they do this. They argue experiments don't translate easily to stuying social behaviour and the data they produce is low in validity. 

Moreover: because of the number of problems with labortary experiments as a methods, even positivists rarely make use of them in research. 

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Problems with Laboratory experiments

Problems with Lab experiements: 

Artificiality: a highly artificial environment, doubtful results can be transferred to the real world. 

Intentifying and controlling variables: only effective if all the variables which influence the outcome can be identified. 

Hawthorne effect: even if the subjects are misled about the real purpose of the experiment, their knowledge they are in an experiment is likely to affect how they behave. 

Ethical problems: 

Lack of informed consent: the researcher needs the informed consent of the research participants, might be difficult in children or groups with learning difficulties, they may not fully understand the nature or purpose of the experiment. 

Deception: many experiments may involve some kind of 'blind' to conceal the true purpose of the research, so as to avoid influencing the subjects actions. However, as a result you cannot gain their informed consent. 

Another problem may also be any emotional, psychological and physical effects that the experiments may cause. 

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Field Experiments

Field experiments take place in the real world. The sociologist either creates a situation or adapt an existing real life situation to their research purpose. Those involved are normally unaware the experiment is taking place. The aim is to obtain some element of control, while avoiding the artificial setting of a lab. 

Advantages:

Less artificiality: set in real life situations, unlike lab experiments so the research groups actions will be less contrieved

Validity: people are unaware of the experiment situation and are in their normal social environment, so they will act normally and their reactions will be genuine. 

Disadvantages: 

Less control over variables: they do not meet the same rigerous scientific criteria as lab experiments, because the sociologist cannot control all the variables. 

Limited application: there are few situations that can be adapted to become field experiments. It is possible to test one factor in a limited way, but anything more complex is very difficult. They tend to only measure what people do not why they do it. 

Ethical problems: they don't gain informed consent of those involved, because to do so would give the game away. 

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The Comparative method

The comparative method is a 'thought experiment', it involves two groups that are the same apart from one characteristic. e.g. Durkheim compared suicide rates of Protestants and Catholics. He concluded that Catholic's lower suicide rate was due to higher levels of social intergration. 

The comparative method is carried out only in the mind of the sociologist, it doesnt involve a researcher actually experimenting on real people. It was designed to discover cause and effect relationships.

Step 1: Identify two groups of people that are alike in all major respects, apart from one variable that we are interested in. 

Step 2: Then compare the two groups to see if one difference between them has any effect. 

The method has three advantages: it avoids artificiality, it can be used to study previous events and poses no ethical problems. 

However, it gives no control over variables so it cannot be sure it has discovered the true cause of something. 

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