How do sociologists do research? Sociological research follows eight basic steps. First, choose an issue. Then define your topic in a meaningful and manageable way. Next, review the literature to see...

How do sociologists do research? Sociological research follows eight basic steps. First, choose an issue. Then define your topic in a meaningful and manageable way. Next, review the literature to see what has been done on the subject and what gaps exist in the research, and if you are engaging in deductive research, develop a hypothesis. Design your project based on the most suitable methodology. Collect data; then analyze the data using a method appropriate to your data collection strategy. Finally, report your findings.