Introducing Research Methods (P1/3)

Question 1

What are the 4 types of data

Answer 1

Primary- the researcher collects this themselves e.g. interviews, experiments.

Secondary- collected/created by someone else for their own purposes, but used by sociologists.

Quantitative- presented in numerical form e.g. number of divorces per year.

Qualitative- usually presented in written format. Incl data from observations and transcriptions (written accounts) of interviews.

Question 2

Examples of primary quantitative data

Answer 2

Primary data Questionnaires

structured interviews

structured observations

experiments

Unstructured interviews

participant observation

Question 3

Examples of secondary quantitative data

Answer 3

Official stats

Question 4

Examples of primary qualitative data

Answer 4

Unstructured interviews

participant observation

Question 5

Examples of secondary qualitative data

Answer 5

Documents

Question 6

List the practical issues (FAST)

Answer 6

Funding

Access

Skills & characteristics

Time

Question 7

Describe the following practical issue: Funding

Answer 7

People who fund research (e.g. government) may specify the method used and/or the type of data collected (e.g. quantitative). The amount of money they give towards research may also affect what method is picked, as some are cheaper/more expensive than others.

Question 8

Describe the following practical issue: Access

Answer 8

For some groups/topics, certain methods will be easier/harder to use e.g. you can’t study gangs using questionnaires! Similarly, in schools, headteachers might not want you to use methods which are disruptive to learning e.g. unstructured interviews

Question 9

Describe the following practical issue: Skills & characteristics

Answer 9

Skills & characteristics For example, in unstructured interviews you need to build a rapport (relationship of trust) with interviewees- not everyone has these skills. Also, with some methods (e.g. covert participant observation) you need to be the same/similar to participants to fit in.

Question 10

Describe the following practical issue: Time

Answer 10

Some methods are quick (e.g. questionnaires) while others (e.g. unstructured interviews are time consuming. Therefore the amount of time a sociologist has to do their research may shape what methods they use.

Question 11

List ethical issues (DRIPP)

Answer 11

Deception

Right to withdraw

Informed consent

Privacy

Question 12

List theoretical issues

Answer 12

Validity

Reliability

Representativeness

Positivism

Interpretivism

Question 13

Describe the following ethical issue: Deception

Answer 13

Sociologists should make sure that they don’t lie to participants. This can happen either when they lie about their identity (covert participant observation), or about the aims of their research.

Question 14

Describe the following ethical issue: Right to withdraw

Answer 14

Participants should be allowed to pull out of research at any point, and should be aware of this.

Question 15

Describe the following ethical issue: Informed consent

Answer 15

This is where those who take part in research agree to do so and know the aims of the research they’ll be taking part in. For some vulnerable groups (e.g. children/mentally ill), consent may need to be gained from others (e.g. parents).

Question 16

Describe the following ethical issue: Privacy

Answer 16

The personal details of participants should never be revealed when research is published. This can be avoided by using pseudonyms (fake names).

Question 17

Describe the following ethical issue: Protection from harm

Answer 17

Researchers must take care not to cause psychological or physical harm when conducting research. This could occur when asking questions about sensitive topics, etc. This is particularly important when studying vulnerable groups.

Question 18

Describe the following theoretical issue : Validity

Answer 18

Accuracy- a ‘true’ picture of the topic being studied. Qualitative methods= more valid as they get more detailed answers

Question 19

Describe the following theoretical issue : Reliabiltiy

Answer 19

Consistency- getting the same results if the study’s repeated. Quantitative methods= more reliable- can be easily repeated to check results.

Question 20

Describe the following theoretical issue : Representativeness

Answer 20

To what extent the people in the study reflect the target population (the overall group being studied). Large scale quantitative surveys use sophisticated sampling techniques/bigger samples- more representative.

Question 21

Describe the following theoretical issue : Positivism

Answer 21

a methodological perspective- a view of what society is like and how it should be studied. They say Sociology is a science, and can find cause and effect patterns/laws of behaviour. They use quantitative data which they argue is objective (free from bias).

Associated w/ macro theories e.g. functionalism, Marxism.

Question 22

Describe the following theoretical issue : Interpretivism

Answer 22

a methodological perspective which argues that Sociology isn’t a science- people have free will, so behaviour is impossible to predict- instead we should try and find the meanings people give their behaviour (why they behave as they do) using qualitative data: this gives verstehen (empathy) with those being studied.

Associated w/ micro theories e.g. interactionism.
Positivists criticise the use of qualitative data as being subjective (based on the opinions of the researchers- not facts).

Question 23

What sociologists study may be influenced by

Answer 23

*Theoretical perspective- e.g. feminists would study gender inequality, Marxists would study class inequality.

*Society’s values- some research topics are more/less popular than others at certain times e.g. in recent years childhood obesity has been a concern for the gov.

*Funding bodies- those who pay for the research usually choose the topic.

*Practical factors- Certain topics/areas are difficult to study e.g. the Secret Service.