Factors affecting choice of method Flashcards
factors affecting choice of method
Practical Issues
Ethical Issues
Theoretical Issues
practical issues
Time and Money
Requirements of funding bodies
Personal Skills and Characteristics of the Researcher
Subject matter of the study
Research Opportunity
time and money
Different methods require different amounts of time and money and this may influence the sociologist’s choice. For example, large-scale surveys may employ dozens of interviewers and staff which could cost a grade deal of money. By contrast, a small-scale project involving a lone researcher using participant observation may be cheaper to carry out, but it can take several years to complete, this may determine which methods they employ
requirements of funding bodies
Research institutes and organisations that provide funding for research may require the results to be in a particular form. For example, a government department funding research into educational achievement may have targets for pass rates and so require quantitative data to see whether these targets are being achieved. This means that sociologist will have to use a method capable of producing such data such as questionnaires or structured interviews
personal skills and characteristics
Each sociologist possesses different personal skills and this may affect their ability to use different methods. For example, participant observation usually requires the ability to mix easily with others as well as good powers of observation and recall, while depth interviews call for an ability to establish rapport with the interviewee. Not all sociologists have these qualities and so some may have difficulty using these methods
subject matter
it may be much harder to study a particular group or subject by one method. For example, written questionnaires may be useless for studying those who cannot read or write.
ethical issues
Refers to moral issues of right and wrong, some methods may raise ethical questions
Informed consent
Confidentiality and privacy
Harm to research participants
Vulnerable groups
Covert research
informed consent
Research participants should be offered the right to refuse to be involved. The researcher should also tell them about all relevant aspects of the research so that they can make a fully informed decision. Consent should be obtained before research begins
confidentiality and privacy
Researchers should keep the identity of research participants a secret to help prevent possible negative effects on them and respect their privacy and keep their personal information confidential
harm to research participants
Researchers need to be aware of the possible effects of their work on those they study. These could include police intervention, social exclusion and psychological damage. The researcher should prevent and anticipate such harm
vulnerable groups
Special care should be taken where research participants are vulnerable because of their age, disability or health. For example, when studying children in schools, researchers should have regard for issues of child protection. They should obtain the consent of both child and the parent, and they should provide information in language that the child can understand.
covert research
Covert Research is when the researcher’s identity and research purpose are hidden from the people being studied. This can create serious ethical problems such as deceiving or lying to people to win their trust or obtain information. It is impossible to maintain authenticity if the research or its purpose is made known.
However, sociologists argue that the use of covert methods may be justified in certain circumstances. Such as gaining access to secretive, dangerous or powerful groups.
theoretical issues
Validity
Reliability
Representativeness
Methodological perspectives.
validity
A valid method is one that produces a true or genuine picture of what something is really like. It allows the researcher to get close to the truth. Qualitative methods like participant observations give us a more valid or truthful account of what it is like to be a member of a group than quantitative methods like questionnaires.
reliability
A reliable method is one that when repeated by another researcher, gives the same results. Quantitative methods - reliable
representativeness
This refers to whether to not the subjects studied are representative of the entire population.
methodological perspective
Sociologists’ choice of method is also influenced by their perspective - their view of what society is like and how we should study it.
Positivists prefer quantitative data as they seek to discover patterns of behaviour, believe that sociology is a science
interpretivists prefer qualitative data, they seek to understand social actors meanings and reject the view that sociology is a science
