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
Jati atroouction to sociology Nonspuriousness: Is the correlation"spurious"? Variable A A Third is correlated is not causally Variable related to Variable B
Nonspuriousness: Is the correlation “spurious”? Variable A Variable B is correlated with A Third Variable is not causally related to
Jati atroouction to sociology What is“ spurous” about a spurious correlation is not the correlation The correlation is real t is the causal interpretation which is spurious
What is “spurious” about a spurious correlation is not the correlation. The correlation is real. It is the causal interpretation which is spurious
Jati atroouction to sociology Some Spurious Correlations Storks and birth rates Storks Rural Areas High Birth Rates
Some Spurious Correlations • Storks and birth rates Storks High Birth Rates Rural Areas X
Jati atroouction to sociology Some Spurious Correlations hand size and shoplifting Large hands Gender X Shoplifting
Some Spurious Correlations Large Hands Shoplifting Gender • hand size and shoplifting X
Jati atroouction to sociology Some spurious Correlations 知· marjuana use and health Marijuana Use Youth X Good health
Some Spurious Correlations Marijuana Use Good health Youth • marijuana use and health X
