Choice of Method and the Research Process Flashcards
What is a developed definition explaining what positivism is?
- Positivists - measurable, objective social reality that exists, like the physical world. Our behaviour is a result of social forces shaping what we do.
- Aim - to discover the underlying causes of our behaviour.
- Uses standardised methods, such as questionnaires, structured interviews, structured observations and official statistics. Obtains reliable and representative quantitative data.
- Data is used to identify patterns and trends in behaviour. Produces cause and effect explanations.
What is a developed definition explaining what interpretivism is?
- Interpretivists - no objective social reality, just subjective meanings that social actors give to events. Research shows actors’ meanings or worldview.
- Aim to understand why people behave the way they do.
- Uses open ended research → unstructured interviews, participant observations, personal documents. It produces valid qualitative data.
- Enables sociologists to gain understanding by experiencing the group’s lifestyle for themselves, or individuals explain in their own words.
What does sociologists’ position affect?
- Choice of research method.
- Kind of questions asked.
- Type of data collected.
- Is reliability or validity seen as more important.
What are the 3 key concepts used to judge the usefulness of a research method?
- Reliability.
- Representativeness.
- Validity.
These must be applied to every research method and have to be used when answering a question about methods.
What is a developed definition explaining what reliability is?
- For a method to be reliable it has to be replicable.
- Use standardised forms of measurement.
- Creates data used to systematically re test hypotheses about social behaviour.
- Positivists prefer a scientific approach because it emphasises the need for reliability, therefore they use structured research methods that can be repeated. Regard participant observation and unstructured interviews as unreliable → they cannot be repeated and don’t use a standardised system of measurements.
What is a developed definition explaining what representativeness is?
- Sociologists study a sample (usually unable to study every member of a group).
- In order to be representative, the characteristics of the sample need to reflect those of the wider group.
- Sociologists can then make generalisations on the basis of the evidence from the sample.
- Positivists emphasise the importance of representativeness → they wish to discover general patterns about social behaviour.
What is a developed definition explaining what validity is?
- How true and authentic the data is.
- Interpretivists emphasise the importance of using methods such as participant observation or unstructured interviews. Surveys, experiments and other structured research are rejected → they don’t reveal what social actors really think or how they act.
What are the 3 factors? (P.E.T.)
- Practical factors.
- Ethical factors.
- Theoretical factors.
What do practical factors consist of?
(Can restrict the sociologist’s choice of method).
- Time.
- Finance.
- Source of funding.
- Personal factors.
- Research subjects.
- Research opportunities.
- Personal danger.
What do ethical factors consist of?
(Sociological research doesn’t take place within a ‘moral vacuum’. They have to think about the impact research can have on people’s lives).
- Informed consent.
- Confidentiality.
- Effects on research objects.
- Vulnerable groups.
- Covert research.
Different methods = different ethical problems.
What do theoretical factors consist of? (Positivism and Interpretivism)
- Positivists → prefer quantitative data and structured research techniques.
- Interpretivists → prefer qualitative data and unstructured research methods. They like to uncover the meanings people hold. They allow people to speak in the ways they feel are appropriate.
When choosing a topic, what factors are considered?
- Practical factors → some topics may not be easily studied.
- Funding bodies → only fund studies of topics they consider to be important.
- Society’s values → these change and interest in certain topics and issues change with them.
- Sociologists’ theoretical perspective → may affect the type of topic they want to study.
- Chance → sometimes situations give rise to a research topic.
What is the process of research?
(9 stages)
- Identify a topic of interest.
- Formulate the aims/hypothesis.
- Choose research method.
- Operationalise variables/concepts.
- Carry out pilot study.
- Select sample.
- Carry out study.
- Present and analyse data.
- Make conclusion and report.
