6.2 - Stages In The Research Process

Question 1

What is a social problem?

Answer 1

Aspects of social life that cause misery and anxiety to everyone in society. research into these problems is often sponsored by those in power.

Question 2

What is a sociological problem?

Answer 2

Any aspect of social life is a sociological problem.

Question 3

Interests and Values of the Researcher

Answer 3

Researches may be attracted to a subject because they feel some inequality needs to be corrected. This does not mean the research is biased.

Question 4

Funding

Answer 4

Research costs money, so those who are providing funding may change the direction of the study to suit their agenda.

Question 5

Access to research subjects

Answer 5

Sociologists may need to use a ‘gate-keeper’ who has contact with a relevant group of individuals.

Question 6

What is primary and secondary data?

Answer 6

PRIMARY - Data the sociologist has gathered themselves.

SECONDARY - Data that has been collected by others.

Question 7

What practical factors may the sociologist face?

Answer 7

COST - The scale of the research depends on how much funding is secured, E.G little funding leads to questionnaires and secondary data.

TIME - This is also affected by funding as longitudinal studies are expensive.

SUBJECT MATTER - If the matter is sensitive, the sample may refuse to cooperate.

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCHER - social charactistics of the researcher and the sample can affect the research method, E.G negative consequences if white researcher interviewed black people about racism.

Question 8

Ethical rules by the BSA

Answer 8

1) ‘informed consent’ should be obtained so the subjects can make an informed choice about taking part.
2) sociologists should not keep information from the subjects or establish relationships in order to produce data.
3) anonymity should be guaranteed.
4) subjects should be protected from harm, E.G. Their reputation should not be harmed.
5) sociologist’s behaviour should not be illegal or immoral, E.G. Should not have ‘guilty knowledge’
6) sociologists should avoid putting themselves at risk.

Question 9

HYPOTHESIS

Answer 9

An informed guess that the researcher may believe is true which can be tested.

Question 10

OPERATIONALISATION

Answer 10

Breaking the hypothesis down into things that can be observed or measured.

Question 11

RANDOM SAMPLING

Answer 11

Sociologists select the subjects randomly form a sampling frame. It does not guarantee a representative sample as there may be a disproportionate number of people from one particular group.

Question 12

SYSTEMATIC RANDOM SAMPLING

Answer 12

Choosing a number between 1-10 and picking every tenth number from that number, E.G. 7, 17, 27….
Does not guarantee a representative sample.

Question 13

STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLING

Answer 13

Dividing the population into sampling frames and then randomly selecting the group, E.G. Separating them by gender.

Question 14

QUOTA SAMPLING

Answer 14

Researcher decides how many people should be in each category then looks for people until the quota is filled. E.G. If there is 10 women aged over 18 needed, the researcher will look for 10 such women.

Question 15

PURPOSIVE SAMPLING

Answer 15

Researcher chooses individuals that fit the nature of the study. E.G. Goldthorpe - manual workers with high incomes

Question 16

OPPORTUNITY SAMPLING

Answer 16

Researcher finds the subjects in opportunities they are likely to be found, E.G. African people and community centres or churches for African people.

Question 17

SNOWBALL SAMPLING

Answer 17

Finding and interview a person who then suggests someone else who would be willing to be interviewed. The researcher can make the sample as large as they want and it makes it easier when gaining access to secretive groups.

Question 18

VOLUNTEER SAMPLING

Answer 18

Sociologists advertise for volunteers for research.

Question 19

PILOT STUDY

Answer 19

Researcher carries out a small scale version of the research first on a sub sample of the sample to spot any possible problems.

Question 20

RESPONDENT VALIDATION

Answer 20

The subjects check the accuracy of the researcher’s findings. It is mainly used by interpretivists to reduce researcher bias. However, some subjects may not be able to validate the findings because they may misunderstand it or be unwilling because they think it is critical of their actions.