4.5 Chapter Summary
Kimberly Puttman
In this chapter, we explored the “how” of social science: how do social scientists do research to understand social problems? We learned that there are three frameworks that provide the foundations for doing social science – the scientific method, the interpretive framework, and the Indigenous framework. Each paradigm makes foundational assumptions about how the social world works. These assumptions change how scientists do their science, and influence the conclusions they make.
We reviewed the ways in which social scientists collect data, understanding how surveys, experiments, interviews, and other methods provide evidence that may support or fail to support any social theory.
We also looked at a research approach beloved by social problems sociologists: research and action. Social problems sociologists want to understand a problem so they can encourage actions to help resolve it. Humanitarian, community-based, and participatory action research methods lend themselves to understanding, engagement, and action by scientists, activists, and community members.
Now that you have some sociological tools and techniques at your fingertips, it’s time to use them to explore the social problem of education. Let’s go back to school!
Essential Ideas
Learning Objective 1: How does a research framework impact the way in which the sociologist conducts research?
A research framework organizes the questions the social scientist might ask, the ways the research is designed, the kinds of information the scientist considers valid, and the use of the research outcomes. In the scientific method, the scientist starts with a measurable hypothesis and collects data to prove or disprove the hypothesis. In the interpretive framework, the scientist has a set of core questions but allows the participant interviews to reveal themes or answers. In the Indigenous framework, scientists emphasize interdependence and connection, using energy, spirit, and stories in addition to physical evidence or sociological information to learn things.
Learning Objective 2: What are the characteristics of each research method?
Each of the six research methods has its strengths, from surveys, which help us understand changes over time, to participant observation, which gives us deep, rich knowledge of a small group of people. Often social scientists will use multiple methods to understand social phenomena.
Learning Objective 3: What challenges do social scientists experience when they combine research and action when examining social problems?
Social problems sociologists often research so that they and others can take effective action. Several research methods support taking action as part of the research process. However, sometimes, action happens before the results are well-understood. The action may be ineffective or harmful because of this limitation.
Key Terms Review
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Key Terms List
action research: a fami