Scientific Method Matrix

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.	Many people are now setting in a room with their friends and family members, all of which are on an electronic device, checking their news feed instead of interacting with the people actually in their life at the moment.
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?	Are people spending too much time on social networking sites rather than interacting with people in their life?
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 study, time is defined as a number that is ever-increasing. For purposes of this study, people are defined as a number of acquaintances or friends.
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.	Blurred Boundaries is a journal article that talks about the burring of virtual life and real life.  These two are becoming more and more integrated with each other.  Boundaries that were once established become impaired when someone goes from their virtual life to their normal life.   Jones, B. (2009, Summer). Blurred Boundaries. Human Organization, 68(2), 181-193.  Retrieved on March 18, 2013, from ProQuest.
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.	When  a person spends more time on social networking websites, they are going to be more comfortable communicating with people on the internet, rather than in real life.
Independent variable Identify the independent variable (IV), which is the variable that you hypothesize will cause or influence the other variable.	Time
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.	People
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 a person spend too much time on social networking websites, then they will have better relationships online rather than in real life.
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.	My research design would include the question, “Do you spend more than three hours a week on the internet,” which would be the interview survey.  The questionnaire survey would be, “When trying to contact a friend of yours, what is the method that you use the most?”  Observation would entail watching how people interact with each other on a regular basis.  This includes both online and in real life.  An experiment would be used to gauge someone’s personality both on the computer and in person, and compare them to each other. Is this person who they are coming across as on the computer?  The existing source that I have is “Blurred Boundaries” by Bridgett Jones.
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.	In conclusion, spending more than an hour a week on social networking websites than interacting with people in real life inhibits a person’s ability to socialize in real life.  This person’s identity as a person in the real world and as a person in the virtual world will overlap each other.  Not only their identity, but their norms.  Their life as a whole becomes different because of what goes on while they are online.  I believe that as the person learns to develop themselves online, they lose their ability to discern themselves in the real world.  Not only do they not see anything different about themselves, but they do not see a different in anyone that is caused due to social networking.  There are boundaries in real life that need to be respected and lived by.  Social networking websites do not have these boundaries.  A person can be completely conservative in real life, then get onto a social networking website and be completely different.  When they get off the internet, their two identities become blurred together.