Jati atroouction to sociology . Testing Theories and Hypotheses A. Three criteria of causal Explanations B. Experimental Research C. Field research
I. Testing Theories and Hypotheses A. Three Criteria of Causal Explanations B. Experimental Research C. Field Research
Jati atroouction to sociology Goals of Theory in Sociology Description. Gives us the conceptual tools to"see"social reality more full EXplanation. Most sociological theory attempts to identify causal interrelationships Independent Dependent Variable Variable
Goals of Theory in Sociology • Description. Gives us the conceptual tools to “see” social reality more fully. • Explanation. Most sociological theory attempts to identify causal interrelationships Independent Variable Dependent Variable
Jati atroouction to sociology Criteria of causation 1)Time Order independent variable must be an antecedent variable 2) Correlation a necessary but not sufficient condition 3) Non-spuriousness ruling out alternative explanations
Criteria of Causation 1) Time Order independent variable must be an antecedent variable 2) Correlation a necessary but not sufficient condition 3) Non-spuriousness ruling out alternative explanations
Jati atroouction to sociology Time Order is Not Always Obvious Web Use Tolerance A finding from the 2000 General Social Survey
Time Order is Not Always Obvious Web Use Tolerance A finding from the 2000 General Social Survey
Jati atroouction to sociology Measuring correlations Correlation coefficients vary from.0 to +10 They must be examined for statistical significance Positive and negative correlations can both indicate causal relations But correlation does not always indicate causation
Measuring Correlations • Correlation coefficients vary from –1.0 to +1.0 • They must be examined for statistical significance • Positive and negative correlations can both indicate causal relations • But correlation does not always indicate causation