Social science research methods and applications

Social Science Research

Silver, Roxane Cohen (2004). Conducting research after the 9/11 attacks: challenges and results. Families, Systems & Health, 22 (1), 47-51.

Over time, what were the emotional, cognitive, and social responses to the 9/11 terrorist attacks across the United States? Are there predictors for these reactions? Do previously traumatized individuals respond differently than others?

Research Design & Method for Data Collection: This was a longitudinal study, meaning that the sample population was interviewed multiple times over many months to see how their reactions were changing. The researchers used an anonymous online survey to collect data from nearly 2,000 individuals in New York, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Miami. Assessments were conducted periodically for two years following the 9/11 tragedy.

Difficulties with Research Design:

a) Challenge finding a sample. Finding a sample of traumatized populations in real time is challenging. In some cases, when those traumatized individuals have sought treatment, those institutions may actively work to "protect" those individuals from serving as research subjects. Institutional Review Boards also work hard to protect traumatized individuals, and may not approve research that seeks to interview those individuals using sensitive questions.

b) Time consuming. Once a general sample population has been identified and the project has been approved, it is still very time consuming to establish rapport with individuals who are suffering from trauma. For this kind of research to be effective, researchers must gain the trust and confidence of these individuals. Careful planning, focus group research, and investigation may help to build this kind of trust, but all of those steps add time (and expenses) to the research process.

c) Use of untested assumptions. Researchers may have their own assumptions about how people react to trauma, and these assumptions may negatively affect their own neutrality. Those assumptions may also impact the design of the study, through the types of questions being asked in the research to the way the researcher interacts with the subjects. Misconceptions about trauma are rampant, and in fact people react very differently to stresses in their lives.

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