from the group under study and the observer cannot allow the close associations or even friendships that inevitably develop or influence the conclusion of the study.
Surveys. Almost all of us have responded to surveys of one kind or another. A survey is a study, generally in the form of an interview or a questionnaire, which provides sociologists with information concerning how people think and act.
Each of these forms has its own advantages. An interview can obtain a high response rate because people find it more difficult to turn down a personal request for an interview than to throw away a written questionnaire. On the other hand, questionnaires have the advantage of being cheaper. Also, since the questions are written, the researcher knows that there is some guarantee of consistency, whereas five interviewers can ask the same question in five different ways.
Unobtrusive measures. They include a variety of research techniques that have no impact on who or what is being studied. Social scientists and students from the University of Arizona studied people's spending and eating habits by examining household garbage left out on the street. This is an unconventional example of the use of unobtrusive measures in social scientific research.
The basic techniques of unobtrusive measures are the use of statistics and studying cultural, economic and political documents, including newspapers, periodicals, radio and television tapes, diaries, songs, folklore and legal papers, to name a few examples.
It is important to realize that research designs need not be viewed as mutually exclusive. Two or more methods used together may be especially informative. For example, unobtrusive methods have proved to be valuable as a supplement to other research methods. One investigator wished to examine the relationship between reported and actual beer consumption. He obtained a «front doon» measure of consumption by asking residents of houses how much beer they drank each week. At the same time, a «backdoor» measure was developed by counting the number of beer cans in their garbage. This backdoor method produced a considerably higher estimate of beer consumption.
Ethics of research. Most sociological research uses people as sources of information – as respondents to survey questions, participants in experiments or subjects of observation. That is why in conducting research sociologists must abide by the code of ethics that puts forth the following basic principles:
1. Maintain objectivity and integrity in research.
2. Respect the subject's right to privacy and dignity.
3. Protect subjects from personal harm.
4. Preserve confidentiality.
5. Acknowledge research collaboration and assistance.
6. Disclose all sources of financial support.
The ethical considerations of sociologists He not only in the methods used, but in the way the results are interpreted. We recognize that sociologists will be influenced by their own personal values in selecting questions for research but under no condition can a researcher allow his or her personal feelings to influence the interpretation of data. In conducting research, sociologists must practice value neutrality in Max Weber's phrase. And as part of this neutrality, investigators have an ethical obligation to accept research findings even when the data run counter to their own personal views, to theoretically based explanations, or to widely accepted beliefs.
The issue of value neutrality becomes especially delicate when one considers the relationship of sociology to government. Max Weber urged that sociology remain an autonomous discipline, and not become unduly influenced by any one segment of society. According to his ideal of value neutrality, sociologists must remain free to reveal information that is embarrassing to government.
Vocabulary Practice
I. Read and translate the text using a dictionaryif necessary.
II. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:
что касается, план исследования, получить данные, наблюдения участника эксперимента, опрос, ненавязчивый, причинно-следственные отношения, проводить эксперимент, искусственно созданная ситуация, подвергаться чему-либо, ясно установить, исследователь (2), испытывать неприязнь к, наблюдатель, испытывать неудобства, с другой стороны, исказить, щекотливый вопрос, относительно чего-либо (2), сохранять беспристрастность, тесные связи, участвовать в опросах, анкета, высокий процент, отклонить личную просьбу, ряд приемов в исследовании, нетрадиционный пример, взаимно исключающие, оценка (2), респондент, участник, объект (предмет) наблюдения, честность, достоинство, конфиденциальность, сотрудничество, ни при каких условиях, нейтральность оценки, этическое обязательство, противоречить чему-либо, обнародовать информацию.
III. Supplythe missing words or word combinations choosing among those given below.
1) An… of sociological research is the decision … how data should be collected. 2) Sociologists use different techniques … for their research. 3) When sociologists wish to study a possible … they may conduct experiments. 4) An experiment allows the researcher… to confirm … to refute the hypothesis under study. 5) In conducting participant observation the investigator may … several problems. 6) If the researcher acts as the members of the group may …. 7) If the researcher… his identity and purpose, he is being somewhat…. 8) The observer cannot allow the close associations that… develop to influence the conclusion of the study. 9) Almost all of us have responded to …. 10) Since the questions are written, there is some …. 11) Sociologists from Arizona studied people's spending and eating habits by examining …. 12) Two or more research methods used together may be …. 13) Unobtrusive methods have proved to be valuable as … to other research methods.
14) The beer consumption experiment produced … of beer consumption.
15) It is very important how sociologists … of their research. 16) Sociology should remain … and not become … influenced by government. 17) Sociology must… to reveal information that is … to government.
remain free, embarrassing, an autonomous discipline, unduly, interpret the results, a considerably higher estimate, a supplement, especially informative, household garbage, guarantee of consistency, surveys of one kind or another, inevitably, disguises, dishonest, an outsider, feel uneasy, face, either … or …, cause-and-effect relationship, to generate data, important aspect, as to.
IV. Studythe following words and word combinations and use them in sentences of your own:
to obtain data scientifically, to be exposed to, to
