Research Methods: Experiments (Sociology Theory & Methods)

Summary

This sociology tutorial video delves into the research method of experiments, a less common approach in sociology but significant due to its interdisciplinary relevance. It explains the concept of variables, with a focus on independent and dependent variables, and distinguishes between lab and field experiments. The video highlights the benefits of experiments for establishing causality and reliability in social science research. It also addresses the practical, ethical, and theoretical challenges, such as cost, sample representativeness, deception, consent, and the potential for psychological harm. The summary concludes with a mention of notable experimental studies like Milgram's obedience and Bandura's bobo doll experiments.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Experiments are a research method used by sociologists to manipulate one factor to see if it causes a change in another.
• 📊 Variables in experiments are manipulated (independent variable) and measured (dependent variable) to establish cause and effect.
• 🧪 Lab experiments occur in controlled environments to isolate the impact of the manipulated variable.
• 🌳 Field experiments take place in natural environments, offering higher ecological validity but less control.
• 🔍 The purpose of experiments is to establish causal relationships and correlations for formulating theories about human behavior.
• 🔄 Experiments are reliable as they can be repeated and results tested, allowing for validation of theories.
• 📈 They use quantitative data preferred by positivist sociologists for objective judgments.
• 💸 Practical issues include cost, smaller scale, reliance on volunteers, and difficulty controlling extraneous variables.
• 🤔 Ethical issues arise from deception, lack of consent, and potential psychological harm to participants.
• 🤔 Theoretical issues include the lack of real-world validity, the Hawthorne effect, and subjective decisions by researchers.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of conducting experiments in sociological research?

The primary purpose of conducting experiments in sociological research is to manipulate one factor or reason for a social behavior and observe if it causes a change in another, thereby establishing a cause and effect or causal relationship.

What are the two main types of experiments in sociological research?

The two main types of experiments in sociological research are lab experiments or controlled experiments and field experiments.

What is the key difference between lab experiments and field experiments?

Lab experiments take place in a controlled environment where researchers can control all extraneous variables, whereas field experiments occur in the research subject's natural environment with less control over extraneous variables but higher ecological validity.

What are the independent and dependent variables in an experiment?

The independent variable is the factor that researchers manipulate in an experiment, while the dependent variable is the factor that is measured to observe the impact of the manipulation of the independent variable.

Why are experiments considered highly scientific in the social sciences?

Experiments are considered highly scientific because they establish causal relationships and correlations, which can be used to formulate theories about human behavior.

What are some practical issues associated with conducting experiments?

Practical issues with experiments include the cost of materials and lab hire, smaller scale of studies, reliance on volunteers, difficulty in controlling extraneous variables in field experiments, and the mundane realism of activities in lab experiments.

What ethical issues are researchers required to consider when conducting experiments?

Researchers must consider issues such as the need to deceive participants to obtain true behavior, lack of consent in field experiments, and the potential for psychological harm to participants.

How might the behavior in a lab experiment differ from real-life behavior?

The behavior shown in a lab may not reflect behavior in real life due to the artificial environment and the presence of researchers, which may cause the Hawthorne effect where subjects change their behavior because they are aware they are being observed.

What is meant by ecological validity in the context of field experiments?

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which the findings from an experiment can be generalized to real-world settings. Field experiments have higher ecological validity because they take place in a natural environment.

What is the Hawthorne effect and how can it affect the results of an experiment?

The Hawthorne effect is a phenomenon where subjects change their behavior because they know they are being observed. This can affect the results of an experiment by causing the observed behavior to differ from what it would be in a non-experimental setting.

Can you provide an example of a famous sociological experiment?

A famous example of a sociological experiment is Milgram's obedience study, which explored the extent to which participants would follow orders given by an authority figure, even if it involved causing harm to others.