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Doing Sociological Research (36:35)
This multi-segment program focuses on the world of education as it addresses aspects of how to conduct sociological research. After defining what exactly constitutes research, the video defines the concepts of reliability, validity, and representativeness through a study of social interaction in schools; sheds light on essential ideas in survey research via a study of educational inequalities; considers decision-making and social capital in education while presenting the use of interviews in sociological research; and illustrates ethnography in action as it tracks a study of surveillance in schools using observational methods.
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Psychology Research in Context (28:27)
Divided into five sections, the video illustrates the hypothetical-deductive model of scientific reasoning via Piaget’s classic conservation experiment and Donaldson and McGarrigle’s challenge of it; the analysis of statistics involving scenarios in which a record producer considers signing a new band and a student carries out IQ testing; the use of graphs to present data from a study of romance ads; the concept of statistical significance through the conducting of memory tests; and data interpretation through a study measuring levels of aggression.
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[Series] Research Methods in the Social Sciences
Using psychology as its primary medium, this four-part series thoroughly explores qualitative and quantitative research methods used in a wide range of disciplines. Hosted and narrated by students, each program demonstrates the ins and outs of testing hypotheses, preparing experiments, and analyzing data—while improving knowledge of terms and concepts essential to examination boards. Viewable/printable instructor’s guides are available online. 4-part series, 23–46 minutes each.