Sociological Research Methods
Explain how you would use scientific method and steps of the sociological research process to study the following two issues:
Scenario 1: Jessica is a sociologist who studies culture in the workplace at Company Y. She is designing a research study to get a better understanding of differences in productivity between mixed-gender teams and teams whose members are of the same gender.
Scenario 2: There is growing concern over the issue of bullying in the local school district. Julius, who works in the school administration office, has been asked to design a research study to identify if the strict school policies (that some students and parents view as unfair) may be contributing to the increase of bullying.
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Sociological Research Methods
Studying Workplace Culture and Gender Dynamics
To study workplace culture, Jessica must apply the scientific method and sociological research process. She will begin with observation. She notices differing productivity in gender-based team structures. This leads to her forming a research question: Do mixed-gender teams perform better than same-gender teams?
Next, she develops a hypothesis. For example, “Mixed-gender teams have higher productivity than same-gender teams.” Then, she selects a method, such as a survey or observational study. She will collect data on team performance and gender composition.
During the analysis phase, Jessica compares productivity metrics using statistical tools. She interprets whether team gender diversity impacts outcomes. Finally, she presents her findings. If her hypothesis is supported, this may influence company teamwork policies.
Studying Bullying and School Policies
Julius, addressing bullying in schools, will also use the scientific method. He begins by observing increased bullying reports. He forms the question: Are strict policies linked to rising bullying?
He hypothesizes that overly harsh rules may increase student frustration, leading to aggression. Julius then chooses a method, like interviews or anonymous student surveys. This helps him gather opinions and experiences related to school rules and bullying behavior.
He analyzes patterns in responses, looking for links between policy perception and bullying frequency. Julius interprets whether negative views of policies contribute to peer aggression. After analyzing results, he presents findings to school officials.
