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16 Introduction to Sociological Research

Lumen Learning

What you’ll learn to do: describe basic sociological research methods and ethical practices

A woman sits behind a desk in professional attire, talking to a second woman and making notes in her notebook. The second woman is in the foreground and facing away from the camera and looking at the woman behind the desk.
Figure 1. Sociologists rely on systematic scientific processes to collect data and then to evaluate social behavior. Sociologists use different methods of study, including conducting interviews with research participants. (Photo courtesy of Ethan/flickr)

While some results of sociological studies might seem like common sense, hopefully you’ve gathered by now that sociologists rely on systematic scientific processes to collect data and then to evaluate social behavior. Whereas “common sense” relies on myths, traditions, subjective opinion, or amateur observations, social scientists carefully examine and investigate in order to draw accurate conclusions about what they observe.

The primary aim in this section is to illustrate how sociologists utilize sociological research methods to understand human behavior, groups, and/or aspects of society. Through examples, you will see the difference between common sense understandings and sociological research in trying to explain or understand social phenomena.

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Introduction to Sociological Research Copyright © by Lumen Learning is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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