Scientific method matrix

Scientific Method Matrix- 850 words required any references used should be put at the end of the table with apa formatting.

Research is a primary component of sociology. Valid and relevant sociological research is dependent upon a commitment to applying the scientific method in a systematic and organized way in order to ensure maximum objectivity and consistency in research. Complete the following matrix based on a social problem of your choice. The matrix will serve as a guide for creating a preliminary plan for the basic steps of the scientific method.

Scientific Method Matrix

Social problem Identify a social problem of your choice.
Problem definition A problem statement is often written as a research question. Limit the problem statement to one sentence. Example: Is going to college worth the time and money?
Operational definition Develop operational definitions for two abstract concepts in the problem statement that you believe are measurable and subject to change under different conditions. Create the operational definitions so another researcher can understand and assess your definition of the abstract concepts. Limit your definitions to one sentence each. Example: For purposes of this study, schooling is defined as the number of completed grade levels in public education institutions. For purposes of this study, pay off is defined as an increase in income level.
Literature review Conduct a short literature review of one peer-reviewed article pertaining to the chosen social problem. Include an APA citation of the article.
Speculative hypothesis Formulate a speculative hypothesis statement about the relationship between the operationally defined variables. Suggest how one variable is expected to influence the other. The hypothesis must clearly identify which variable you believe will predict or cause a change in the other—this is the independent variable—and which variable’s actions or change will be dependent on change in the other—this is the dependent variable.
Independent variable Identify the independent variable (IV), which is the variable that you hypothesize will cause or influence the other variable.
Dependent variable Identify the dependent variable (DV), which is the variable that you hypothesize will change due to the influence or presence of the independent variable.
Hypothesis Write the hypothesis in the form of an if–then statement. Example: If the grade level of schooling is related to the level of income, then a change in the grade levels of schooling (IV) will affect a change in the level of income (DV).
Major research design Identify the major research design—including the interview survey, questionnaire survey, observation, experiment, and existing sources—you would use to collect and analyze your research data and information. Explain why you believe this is the best research design for your research problem.
Conclusion Suggest a preliminary conclusion to the problem based on the author or researcher’s information or results in the one literature review article. Limit the conclusion to one paragraph.

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Scientific Method Matrix
Social problem

Identify a social problem of your choice.

Drug abuse is one of the major problems affecting the current society. This social problem cuts across all classes and age groups. What is alarming is the rate at which young people especially teens are abusing drugs, especially alcohol. Scientists are yet to establish the genesis of this problem, but many people are blaming moral decay. Sociologists believe that the failure of the society to enhance moral values has immensely contributed to this society.
Problem definition

A problem statement is often written as a research question. Limit the problem statement to one sentence.

Example: Is going to college worth the time and money?

The question that many people ask themselves is the factors that are leading to the widespread drug abuse in the modern society.

Operational definition

Develop operational definitions for two abstract concepts in the problem statement that you believe are measurable and subject to change under different conditions. Create the operational definitions so another researcher can understand and assess your definition of the abstract concepts. Limit your definitions to one sentence each.

Example: For purposes of this study, schooling is defined as the number of completed grade levels in public education institutions. For purposes of this study, pay off is defined as an increase in income level.

For purposes of this research the changing moral values is contributing to the increased drug abuse in the modern society.

The other factor that is increasing drug abuse is technological developments especially in the transport and communication sector which makes the knowledge on these drugs to spread quickly and also facilitates their easy movement from one region to another.

Literature review

Conduct a short literature review of one peer-reviewed article pertaining to the chosen social problem. Include an APA citation of the article.

Depending on drugs is considered to be a negative pattern by medical physicians. This is because it leads to individuals using the drugs for a longer period than expected. This in turn brings about several life-time health problems to the person. Studies reveal that drug abuse occurs in various stages with the first one being access to drugs but not using them. At this stage, people have access to the drugs but minimizing risks factors makes it hard for them to use them. The second stage is the experimental stage. Here, people try to know the effect of using drugs. They start using them regularly for instance on weekly basis. At this stage, they only abuse one drug. The third stage entails people using more than one drug. For instance, they abuse both cannabis sativa and alcohol. At this stage, people using drugs might engage in criminal activities in order to get the money needed to buy the drugs. Many people at this stage are usually the youth who do not have money to purchase drugs. This is the main reason why many youths tend to engage in criminal activities at this stage (Castillo, 2008).

Many studies have been conducted to try to establish the effects of drug abuse in the society. It has been established that drug abuse brings about social, health, economic and relationship problems to the society. For instance, there are a lot of diseases brought about by drug abuse for example liver cirrhosis which is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. The society ends up spending a lot of resources in dealing with these illnesses. The rising numbers of divorce cases in the modern society are being blamed on drug abuse. For example, some spouses abuse drugs excessively which leads to them neglecting their responsibilities to their partners and families.

Many ways have been forward to curb this problem. For instance, many governments have come up with minimum drinking age which aims to control alcohol use among minors. For example, in the United States, an individual is not supposed to take alcohol until attaining the age of 21. This has assisted in preventing drug abuse among minors.

Speculative hypothesis

Formulate a speculative hypothesis statement about the relationship between the operationally defined variables. Suggest how one variable is expected to influence the other. The hypothesis must clearly identify which variable you believe will predict or cause a change in the other—this is the independent variable—and which variable’s actions or change will be dependent on change in the other—this is the dependent variable.

Changing moral values and technological developments have led to an increase in drug abuse in the modern society.

Independent variable

Identify the independent variable (IV), which is the variable that you hypothesize will cause or influence the other variable.

In this study, the independent variables are technological developments and changes in moral values.

Dependent variable

Identify the dependent variable (DV), which is the variable that you hypothesize will change due to the influence or presence of the independent variable.

The dependent variable in this research is the increase in drug abuse in the modern society.

Hypothesis

Write the hypothesis in the form of an if–then statement.

Example: If the grade level of schooling is related to the level of income, then a change in the grade levels of schooling (IV) will affect a change in the level of income (DV).

If the moral values had not changed and there had been no massive technological development in the transport and communication sector, then the current high rates of drug abuse in the society especially among the youth could not have been there.

Major research design

Identify the major research design—including the interview survey, questionnaire survey, observation, experiment, and existing sources—you would use to collect and analyze your research data and information. Explain why you believe this is the best research design for your research problem.

This research will be experimental. As a result of this, I will use interviews, questionnaires and observation to come up with a conclusion on the causes, effects and prevention of drug abuse in the society. This research design is the most ideal since it will enable me to come up with first-hand information. Besides this, the information will also not be biased.

Conclusion

Suggest a preliminary conclusion to the problem based on the author or researcher’s information or results in the one literature review article. Limit the conclusion to one paragraph.

Based on the literature review conducted, drug abuse is mainly caused by the changes in the moral values of the society. What was considered a taboo in the old days is nowadays acceptable. For instance, in old days, it was a taboo for young people to consume alcohol or any drugs in the presence of old people. Today, people usually take drugs carelessly without minding the people around them. They end up consuming drugs in the presence of kids, who in turn think that it is ok for a person to use drugs. When these kids mature, they end up abusing drugs as a result of seeing people consuming it while they were still young. What have made the situation worse are the modern day parents who abuse drugs in the presence of their kids. This behavior makes it very difficult for these parents to advice their kids concerning drug abuse as they wonder why their parents are telling them not to use them while they them. Technological developments on the other hand just facilitate the movement of these drugs, especially hard drugs such as cocaine and bhang from one region to another without being detected (Sussman & Ames, 2008)………………………

APA

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