Sociological Research In The Panel Data Model,

Recently Panel Data Model has been widely applied in sociological research. Development of Panel Data Model in sociological research depends on the following facts: it provides comprehensive perspectives for analysis of observant data (non-experimental data) about social facts and plays an important role in establishment of casual relationship in social theory. The special structure of Panel Data offers necessary tools for the core problem in sociological quantitative analysis-the establishment of casual relationship. However, according to research papers reviewed, most sociological researchers, when applying Panel Data Model in positive analysis, make model choices and conduct analysis on discretion to some extent, such as lack of clarification of key assumptions pertaining to model choice and substantial theoretical background of preference for random effect model. It is indispensable to review comprehensive framework of research in Panel Data analysis.Based on arguments mentioned above, this paper puts forward all-round reviews about research framework of Panel Data analysis in social research, illuminating key assumptions that researchers should explicitly take in account when choosing different models, analyzing choice between fixed effect model and random effect model in sociological research. This paper holds the idea that there's no substantial theoretical background for preference of random effect model in most researchers and model choice should be made based upon relative statistical test such as Hausman test. Finally this paper brings forward integrated framework for Panel Data analysis in sociological research and applies it to PuDong 1000 household survey data. Finally the paper provides directions for further research.