Factors Influencing Choice of Methods Flashcards
all factors using the P.E.R.V.E.R.T model.
What model is used?
P.E.R.V.E.R.T
Practical issues model?
CAT- cost, access and time.
Time and money?
Different methods have different effects.
- Large scale; more people + less time.
- Small scale; less people + more time- one researcher.
Funding bodies?
Some sociologists need funding from the government to reach their target.
What research methods will funding bodies need to use?
give examples.
Quantitative; questionnaires, structured interviews.
Subject matter?
May be harder to study a particular subject by one method- e.g male teacher may find it challenging to study an all-female group.
Research opportunity?
give an example.
Unexpectedly could be called for research- may have to use structured methods e.g questionnaires/longer to prepare.
Patrick, Glasgow- spent time with a gang; used participant observation
What does ‘ethics’ refer to?
The issues of right and wrong.
Ethical issues?
Informed consent, confidentiality and privacy, harm to research participants, vulnerable groups, covert research.
Why can covert research be good?
To gain access to secretive, dangerous or powerful groups.
Meaning by ‘theoretical’?
What we (as a society) think it is like and whether if the research is right to use in cases.
Validity?
Method that produces a genuine picture of what something is; truthful.
What methods are valid?
Qualitative- participant observation- deeper insight.
Reliability?
‘Replica’- exact copy.
- can be repeated and get the same results.
Representativeness?
The area being studied is a cross-section of the group we are interested in.
Who are the 2 types of methodological perspectives?
Positivists and Interpretivists.
Positivists?
Quantitiative data- discover patterns of behaviour and see sociology as a science.
Interpretivists?
Qualitative data- understand meaning and reject sociology as a science.
