Issues & Theories

Question 1

Two practical issues

Answer 1

Money + Funding:
➞ the more in-depth method used, more money costs e.g unstructured interviews = expensive , questionnaires = cheap
➞ for example, carrying out your own primary research tends to be more expensive that secondary sources
➞ consider funding, many organisations fund such as charities + businesses, but large amount from government
➞ government more likely to fund research that: -quantitative research than qualitative as apply to population
- fits present aims
➞ E.g. Operation head start - funded program by government, aimed at promoting school for children from low-income families

Time:
➞ some methods are quick e.g questionnaires, others e.g covert observation very time consuming as need to build rapport
➞ length of time influences scale of research + how it’s funded
➞ e.g. Winlow went uncover as a bouncer for 4 years, Wright researched exclusion African-Caribbean boys, 3rd interview was 10 months after 1st

Question 2

Interprevists

Answer 2

➞ subjective meaning
➞ meaning behind actions
➞ qualitative methods
➞ methods: in-depth interviews + semi-structured interviews, ethnography etc
➞ e.g. Willis “Learning to Labour” - ethnographic study on WC boys in school

Question 3

Positivists

Answer 3

➞ objectivity, generalisation
➞ quantitative methods
➞ social facts are stats
➞ e.g social surveys on educational achievement