I need a research topic as a Sociology major!?

Question

I've been thinking really hard for a topic and it seems impossible. I was thinking along the line of interviewing asain americans about the pressure that they go through to try to please their parents. I am not sure of a better way to quote it. Maybe someone can provide me with some other suggestions?

Answer 1

I say go for it - if you are an Asian American student - you will have good respose. Otherwise, I would choose another topic.

It will be very interesting. You'll have to use a solid methodology and follow strict ethics becuase you are working with people.

Formulate your research question (s) and then build a survey around what you want to know. Don't 'assume' that all Asian students are under pressure to please their parents. Ask if they are.

Research Question: you don't ask this, this is what you are trying to find out.

Do Asian American (teenagers, youth, or students) experience pressure to please their parents? If so, what are these pressures? What are the effect of these pressures on grades, employment, career, personal relationships, personal stress ... and so on?

Start with -
Do you feel pressure to please your parents?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Sometimes

Why? ______________

Then go on to ask other questions.

Ask some SES questions to generate variables.

The control variable is ethnicity as it is constant to 'Asian'.

What is your family's financial situation? Avoid numbers, as many students will not know this.

1. Poor
2. Good
3. Well-off

What is your sex?
1. Male
2. Female

What is your GPA?

1. 4.0 or above
2. 3.50 to 3.95
3. 3.0 to 3.45
4. 2.50 to 2.95
5. 2.45 or below

Were you born in North America?
1. Yes
2. No

What is your English language comprehension?
1. Poor
2. Fair
3. Good
4. Very Good
5. Excellent

Good luck!

Answer 2

How about the amount of touching (hand on someone's arm, for example) that goes on from a woman to a man versus a man to a woman in different cultures? Or, say, American versus Mexican culture (tape several soap operas and count the touches).

Or touches in movies (action, comedy, horror).