Influences on Choice and Key Issues in/of Research

Question 1

research topic - practical

Answer 1

• open > close setting
• time and funding (government-backed produce more sponsorship and favour large-scale quantitative) e.g CSEW by Home Office
• availability of existing data
• values/beliefs of researcher & personal characteristics
• promotion
• pressure to publish means research is not thorough

Question 2

research topic - ethical

Answer 2

• informed consent (mentally ill/school students)
• personal safety of researcher
• confidentiality & anonymity

Question 3

research topic - theoretical issues

Answer 3

• functionalists; how social institutions contribute to maintenance of society
• marxists; social inequality
• feminists; gender inequality

Question 4

research topic - reliability

Answer 4

replication:

another researcher repeating research using same method should achieve similar results

Question 5

research topic - validity

Answer 5

notions of truth:

research findings must provide a true/genuine picture of what is being studied

Question 6

research topic - ethics

Answer 6

• morality: issues of right & wrong
• sensitivities
• findings accurate and honest
• physical, social and mental well-being not harmed
• anonymity, privacy and interests respected
• based on freely given informed consent