Research Methods in the Real World
95 Summary
This chapter focused on research as a career, including a discussion of the various types of career-related research opportunities in the real world. Whether or not you are interested in a career in research, it is undeniable that the skills and knowledge you have gained in this class are transferable and will serve you well in many other professions.
Key Takeaways
- Evaluation research is research that is conducted to assess the effects of specific programs or policies.
- Market research is research that is conducted for the purpose of guiding business and other organizations as they make decisions about how best to sell, improve, or promote a product or service.
- Sociologists are employed in many research areas. Some of the most common include evaluation research, market research, and policy and other government research.
- Action research is conducted by researchers who wish to create some form of social change. It is often conducted by teams of interdisciplinary researchers.
- One of the positive consequences of public sociology is that the discipline has become more visible and more accessible to much broader audiences than in the past. Having a background in sociological research methods can help you read, make sense of, discuss, and share the research findings you encounter.
- Having a background in social science research methodology provides you with a number of transferable skills. Having a background in social science research methodology gives you the opportunity to gain greater insight into yourself, your circumstances, and your world.
References
Freire, P. (1970; 1993; 2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed (M. B. Ramos, Trans.). New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group In.
Patton, C. M. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Schmitz, A. (2012). Principles of sociological inquiry; Qualitative and quantitative methods. Washington, DC: Saylor Academy. Retrieved from https://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Principles%20of%20Sociological%20Inquiry.pdf
