The first method of sociological research is Exploratory research which attempts to answer the question "What?"(Hickey, 1999: 47) Exploratory research is generally the first step in research it provides a foundation for later research and asks previously unasked questions. While not answering these questions it makes a starting off point for other research to take place. (Raferty,1998)

The next type of research Sociologists use is the Descriptive Research method. "Descriptive Research answers the questions "What" and "How?"(Hickey,1999:47) It describes what and how something happens while trying to be as accurate and objective as possible. (McNeil,1990) An example of this might be a newspaper article describing a social event or a newscast covering a baseball game.

The third type of Sociological research would be Explanatory research. "Explanatory research attempts to explain social phenomena by answering the questions "What?" "How?" and " Why?"(Hickey,1999:49) this type of researc

h not only explains what takes place and how it takes place but examines why people behave they way they do in any given social circumstance. (Dooley,1990) This is one of the least used methods due to the fact that there are a wide variety of explanations for human behavior.

The next group of Sociological methods of research is Qualitative research designs. "Qualitative research designs use systematic observation and focus on the meanings people give to their social actions." (Hickey, 1999: 51) This group includes Ethnographic interviews, participant observation, and Case Studies.

Another type of research method is the Evaluation Research. "Evaluation Research measures the effectiveness of a program: it asks, "Does it work?" (Hickey,1999:49) This method is widely used in sociology today, and in this time of limited resources this method is most likely to be funded by the government or private organizations. (Encarta, 2000) One example of this method would be "Head Start," a preschool program for underprivileged inner city kids that gets them ready for school. Sociologists would evaluate this program and decide if it worked and then the government would decide whether or not to continue funding them.

The first of the Qualitative research designs is Ethnographic interviews. "An ethnographic interview is a technique where the researcher talks with people in an effort to learn as much as possible about them and their behavior." (Hickey, 1999: 51) Ethnographic interv

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