Section 1
The Research Process
By Boundless
Defining a sociological problem helps frame a question to be addressed in the research process.
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Sociological researchers review past work in their area of interest and include this "literature review" in the presentation of their research.
A hypothesis is a potential answer to your research question; the research process helps you determine if your hypothesis is true.
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The research design is the methodology and procedure a researcher follows to answer their sociological question.
Defining the sample and collecting data are key parts of all empirical research, both qualitative and quantitative.
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Data analysis in sociological research aims to identify meaningful sociological patterns.
Sociological research publications generally include a literature review, an overview of the methodology followed, the results and an analysis of those results, and conclusions.