Stages In The Reasearch Design

Question 1

HYPOTHESIS- what is it ?

Answer 1

An informed scientific guess that something might be true.

It is what the sociologist wants to test MAY BE BASED ON OBSERVATION MADE BY PRIOR RESEARCHER

Question 2

HYPOTHESIS - applied example

Answer 2

A Marxist might construct a hypothesis that aims to show that the UK is class divided society 
— Children from a middle-class families are educationally successful because they have access to economic, cultural and social capital.

Question 3

2CHOICE OF METHOD

Answer 3

the method will depend on practical, ethical and theoretical factors (PET)

Question 4

3 RESEARCH POPULATION

Answer 4

the sociologist then selects the research population that best suits the hypothesis

Question 5

RESEARCH POPULATION- example

Research population might be A-level students and/or their parents because:

Answer 5

A level students are “educationally successful” because they have reached particular level of education
Parents have insight into the help they have given during their children’s education

Question 6

OPERATIONALISATION

Answer 6

Hypothesis then operationalised - broken down into observable and/or measurable parts.

Question 7

OPERATIONALISATION - for the given hypothesis, using a survey questionnaire would involve deciding on sets of questions which define and measure:

Answer 7

“Middle-class” status ( as well as “working-class status” as a point of comparison)
Educational success (& at what level) 
Economic, cultural and social capital

Question 8

SAMPLING

Answer 8

the researcher then finds a sampling frame - a list of names ( and addressed) of people who might be willing to take part in the research process.

Question 9

PILOT STUDY

Answer 9

virtually a dress rehearsal of the research. Carries out on a very small scale (sub-sample) aims to ensure that the research design is relatable and data collected be valid or true to life (representative;

Question 10

PILOT STUDY for given hypothesis a pilot study can check that :

Answer 10

The sampling fame is composed of participants relevant to the researcher
Participants are interpreting the questions the same way as the researcher
The data collected closely reflects the reality of the researcher subject

Question 11

RESEARCH

Answer 11

the research is now carried out in full

Question 12

REPORT WRITING

Answer 12

the researchers must write up a report in order to so resent their findings

Question 13

REPORT WRITING - extra

Answer 13

Most reports will contain explicit details of the research design and process so that other researchers can replicate and therefore verify the findings.

INTERPRETIVISTS ARE VERY KEEN ON REFLEXIVITY. often keep a detailed day-to-day diary critically documenting the research process and how their own beliefs and options may be affecting the study.