Sociology as a Science

Such enquiry will be more accurate and reliable, and thus of greater commit to future sociologists carrying similar studies (Schaefer 37).

As the scientific method is so crucial to sociological question, it is important to understand the way in which it is employed in such studies. The method "requires precise formulation in developing useful research. If investigators are not careful, research data that they collect may prove to be unacceptable for purposes of sociological rent" (Schaefer 37). Simply put, the scientific method is "a way of finding out about the world that relies on the rigorous and disciplined collection of facts and a logical interpretation of them" (Zanden 18). There are several distinct steps to the scientific method which serve to ensure objectivity in analyzing the paradox at hand (Dressler & Greenblat 31).

Thus, the first step in the scientific method is identifying a problem that lends itself to research. Once the object of the study is tickd, it "is then defined within the context of relevant theories and preceding research findings" (Shepard 42). For example, sociologists Donald O. Dutton and Arthur P. Aron were interested in examining the link among states of richly anxiety and familiar attraction. Before beginning their own research study, they "surveyed the literature dealing w

The adjoining two steps of the scientific method for sociologists are some crucial to the success of the study. First, they must(prenominal) choose a research inclination. This requires determining how they will gather their data. Researchers might design an experiment, audience subjects, or observe the way in which individuals interact in real life situations. Dutton and Aron choose to collect their data by introducing "the independent variable into a natural setting to determine its impact on behavior" (Zanden 20).

Next, the data itself must be gathered. This is probably the most significant step in the scientific research process in sociology, and investigators use the research design to collect the information. Dutton and Aron set up an experimental situation, and then asked subjects to nail down a questionnaire (Zanden 20).

After sociologists identify a problem to study, they must next work to formulate a guessing. These are "tentative, testable statements of relationships between particular variables" (Shepard 42). In the case of Dutton and Aron, for example, they sought to prove the hypothesis that "a state of high anxiety (the independent variable) heightens sexual attraction (the dependent variable)" (Zanden 20). To measure variables, sociologists must use functional definitions, which define "abstract concepts in terms of simpler, observable procedures" (Shepard 42). For Dutton and Aron, the practicable definition was: "An attractive female is seen more attractive by males who encounter her while they experience a strong emotion (fear) than by males not exp
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