SOC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Scientific Method, Operational Definition, Ice Cream
15 Jul 2020
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Document Summary
Scientific method - systematic, organized series of steps that ensures maximum objectivity and consistency when researching a problem. The five basic steps of the scientific method. Defining the problem - need to pose a question for research purposes. Operational definition - an explanation of an abstract concept that is specific enough to allow a researcher to measure the concept. Possible use of perspective to define problem. We need to go to the library, get in front of a computer, and enter the key words to see what has already been researched on our topic. Can see if someone has already done the study you plan to do, so you can replicate and critique the older study. Hypothesis: educated guess and speculative statement regarding the relationship among variables. Independent variables come first in a study and affect dependent variables. The process of assigning these is called causal logic.
