SOCL 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Field Experiment
21 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
According to positivists, we must proceed by drawing causal inferences about the relations among a set of characteristics or variables. Variables of interest to us(things we want to explain) Key: distinguishing between dependent and independent variables. By engaging in systematic research, we can try to identify causal relations among variables of interest to us. Matter of testing hypotheses about the relationship among variables. Puzzle solving--but there are many types of pieces(methods to work with. There must be co-variation(if x, then y) We must be able to eliminate rival hypotheses. Research design that allows us to manipulate an independent variable, while holding constant all other variables. Virtues: rigor-defines the ideal method for establishing causal analysis. Limitations: findings often don"t generalize to non-lab settings. Sent 3,538 fictitious resumes to 1,769 job postings. Data included jobs in 7 different states in ne and west coast as well as the midwest and south. Carefully varied gay/straight signals, holding all else constant.
