Methods in Context

Question 1

Considering strengths and limitations of a method - PERVERT model

Answer 1

• Practical issues
• Ethical issues
• Reliability of the information collected
• Validity of the information obtained
• Examples from research or your own understanding to illustrate the points you’re making
• Representativeness of the information
• Theoretical issues

Question 2

Practical issues

Answer 2

• Time and cost
• Is the suggested method likely to work in the setting
• Is the suggested method likely to work with the participants being researched (eg language barrier, young kids lacking maturity etc)
• Schools are hierarchal, so even if headteachers agree individual teachers may not
• Schools are very busy and very structured routines (harder to interrupt)
• Is there resentment, hostility or resistance from participants (members of anti-school subculture might not answer questionnaires)
• Will the method build sufficient rapport and trust for participants to discuss personal, sensitive or upsetting topics
• Is the research practical to identify samples (eg can a sample be easily representative if some families entitled to FSM don’t claim)
• Will the researcher have the right characteristics for this method (eg old people can’t pretend to be students)
• If it uses secondary data, is this data available (eg documents restricted to public access)
• Availability of funding

Question 3

Ethical issues - the duty of care and confidentiality

Answer 3

• Schools have a duty of care towards pupils, which means they have a legal obligation to care to ensure their safety and well-being, which would involve protecting vulnerable students and maintaining confidentiality
• Teachers have to maintain professional standards, so this may make them reluctant to discuss confidential or damaging information about pupils, families or schools
• Adults working regularly with children may need a DBS (disclosure and barring service) check to ensure they have no criminal record which might pose a threat
• Researchers also have a moral or ethical duty of care

Question 4

Ethical issue - informed consent

Answer 4

• Participants have to know what research is about and what it is for to give informed consent
• This is difficult in methods like covert observation
• Any research involving people under 18 needs to have their parents’ informed consent
• Younger children may not be able to understand what the research is about, making obtaining informed consent har

Question 5

Ethical issues - intrusive and harmful effects

Answer 5

• Is using the method likely to upset or harm participants (eg through invasive and sensitive question, could make parents feel bad about themselves, protecting confidentiality and identity, building up rapport then leaving quickly and abruptly)
• Will the method put the researcher or those being researched at risk of harm (will teachers be fired for talking frankly about schools or students, will parents who neglect education eg through unauthorised absences be fined etc)
• Is the method likely to undercover unexpected or unwanted information which might compromise confidentiality (eg revealing abusive or dysfunctional families and the debate on whether to report it or not)
• Is the method likely to involve deception

Question 6

Reliability

Answer 6

• Is the method suggested reliable (would other researchers be able to repeat it and get similar results eg difficult to repeat research on some deviant groups)
• Is the method likely to use reliable data (eg official statistics are more reliable than interviews, as participants may produce answers intended to please or annoy the researcher)

Question 7

Validity

Answer 7

• Is the method the best way to produce valid (true, authentic, genuine) information about the topic (eg participants may exaggerate or lie - using a method that builds rapport is a good way to improve validity)
• Will the method suggested impose answers on respondents (risk that answers may reflect what participants think the researcher wants)
• The Hawthorne Effect (presence of a researcher affecting behaviour or answers)

Question 8

Using examples

Answer 8

• Should provide examples of real research or hypothetical scenarios to explain or illustrate points

Question 9

Representativeness

Answer 9

Is the method likely to produce results that can be generalised to the rest of society (large, longitudinal studies are usually more reliable, and sometimes there may be a very small or unavailable sampling frame - eg of students with a lot of unauthorised absences)

Question 10

Theoretical issues

Answer 10

• Is the suggested method more associated with interpretivists, positivists, feminists, marxists, structural or action theorists etc
• Will the method produce value-free objective information (remember Becker suggesting that objectivity, detachment and value freedom are desirable when studying disadvantaged people)

Question 11

What is the primary focus of Functionalist theory in sociological research?

Answer 11

Functionalists focus on how social institutions contribute to the stability and functioning of society as a whole.

Question 12

Why do Functionalists prefer positivist research methods?

Answer 12

Functionalists believe in studying society scientifically using objective, quantitative data to uncover general patterns and social laws.

Question 13

What methods do Functionalists typically use for data collection?

Answer 13

Functionalists prefer methods like surveys, structured interviews, and official statistics for their reliability and ability to produce large-scale data.

Question 14

How do Functionalists view education in research?

Answer 14

Functionalists see education as a key institution that transmits shared norms and values, maintaining social order and integration.

Question 15

Why might Functionalists use official statistics in their research?

Answer 15

Official statistics provide large-scale, reliable data that Functionalists can use to analyze societal trends and measure social functions.

Question 16

How do Functionalists ensure objectivity in their research?

Answer 16

Functionalists emphasize the use of standardization, hypothesis testing, and replicable methods to maintain objectivity and scientific rigor.

Question 17

What is a limitation of Functionalist research methods in context?

Answer 17

Functionalist methods may ignore subjective experiences and the meanings individuals attach to social actions, focusing too much on macro-level analysis.

Question 18

How do Functionalists handle the issue of social facts in their research?

Answer 18

Functionalists treat social facts as things that exist independently of individuals and can be measured objectively.

Question 19

Why might Functionalists study social integration?

Answer 19

They are interested in how well individuals are integrated into society, as this is key to maintaining social stability and preventing disorder.

Question 20

How do Functionalists apply their methods to real-world contexts?

Answer 20

They might use their methods to assess the role of institutions like schools, families, or governments in fulfilling societal needs and maintaining equilibrium.

Question 21

What type of research methods do Marxists typically favor?

Answer 21

Marxists often use qualitative methods, such as interviews and ethnography, to uncover the lived experiences of exploitation and inequality. They also use comparative and historical analysis.

Question 22

Why do Marxists critique positivist methods?

Answer 22

Marxists argue that positivist methods reinforce ruling class ideologies by presenting social structures as natural and ignoring the influence of power and class conflict.

Question 23

How do Marxists incorporate social class into research methods?

Answer 23

Marxists focus on the experiences of the proletariat and how class structures shape access to resources, power, and opportunities.

Question 24

Why might Marxists use historical materialism in research?

Answer 24

Historical materialism allows Marxists to analyze how economic structures and class relations evolve over time, influencing social institutions and ideologies.

Question 25

How do Marxists study education using methods in context?

Answer 25

Marxists might use case studies or ethnography to explore how schools reproduce class inequality, legitimize it through the ideological state apparatus, and reinforce capitalist values

Question 26

What is the role of critical research in Marxist methodology?

Answer 26

Critical research aims to expose systems of oppression and inequality, challenging dominant ideologies and advocating for social change.

Question 27

How do Marxists view the objectivity of research?

Answer 27

Marxists reject the idea of completely neutral research, emphasizing that all research is shaped by the values and interests of the researcher, particularly in class-based societies.

Question 28

What methods might Marxists use to study the family?

Answer 28

Marxists might use document analysis and interviews to reveal how the family serves capitalist interests, such as by reproducing labor power and promoting consumerism.

Question 29

Why do Marxists emphasize comparative analysis in research?

Answer 29

Comparative analysis highlights differences and similarities in class structures and capitalist exploitation across societies, deepening understanding of global inequalities.

Question 30

How might Marxists study crime and deviance in context?

Answer 30

Marxists might analyze crime statistics, corporate crime reports, and qualitative interviews to show how capitalism creates inequality and criminogenic conditions.

Question 31

What is the Marxist critique of official statistics?

Answer 31

Marxists argue that official statistics often reflect ruling class interests, underreporting corporate crimes and focusing on working-class offenses to maintain social control.

Question 32

How do Marxists apply their methodology to global development?

Answer 32

Marxists might analyze trade policies, historical records of colonialism, or case studies of TNC exploitation to expose global inequalities and economic dependency.

Question 33

Why do Marxists often study power structures in research methods?

Answer 33

Marxists seek to uncover how power is maintained and challenged in capitalist societies, particularly through the media, education, law, and other institutions.

Question 34

How might Marxists study false consciousness in context?

Answer 34

By conducting interviews or media analysis, Marxists investigate how capitalist ideologies are internalized and perpetuated among the working class.

Question 35

What ethical considerations are important in Marxist research?

Answer 35

Marxists prioritize giving voice to oppressed groups and ensuring their research contributes to understanding and challenging systems of inequality.

Question 36

What type of research methods do Feminists typically favor?

Answer 36

Feminists often use qualitative methods like unstructured interviews, participant observation, and personal narratives to highlight women’s experiences and voices.

Question 37

Why do Feminists critique positivist research methods?

Answer 37

Feminists argue that positivist methods are patriarchal, often ignoring women’s lived experiences and reinforcing male-dominated perspectives.

Question 38

What is the Feminist view on objectivity in research?

Answer 38

Feminists reject the idea of “neutral” or “objective” research, emphasizing that all research is shaped by the values and biases of the researcher, often reflecting patriarchal ideologies.

Question 39

Why do Feminists emphasize reflexivity in research?

Answer 39

Reflexivity helps researchers acknowledge their own biases and power dynamics during the research process, making the study more ethical and transparent.

Question 40

How do Feminists study education using methods in context?

Answer 40

Feminists might use interviews or classroom observations to explore gender bias, the hidden curriculum, and how education perpetuates gender inequality.

Question 41

What is the Feminist critique of official statistics?

Answer 41

Feminists argue that official statistics often underrepresent women’s issues, such as domestic violence and sexual harassment, due to male-dominated data collection methods.

Question 42

How do Feminists study the family using methods in context?

Answer 42

Feminists might use in-depth interviews or case studies to reveal how family structures perpetuate patriarchy through unequal divisions of labor and control over women.

Question 43

What is the Feminist perspective on crime and deviance in research?

Answer 43

Feminists study how the criminal justice system reflects patriarchal biases, such as blaming victims of sexual assault or underreporting crimes against women.

Question 44

Why do Feminists value qualitative research in studying women’s lives?

Answer 44

Qualitative methods allow Feminists to explore women’s subjective experiences and uncover the power dynamics often missed by quantitative approaches.

Question 45

How do Feminists study workplace inequality?

Answer 45

Feminists use surveys, interviews, and ethnographies to examine gender pay gaps, glass ceilings, and workplace discrimination.

Question 46

What role does intersectionality play in Feminist research?

Answer 46

Intersectionality considers how gender intersects with race, class, and other identities, allowing researchers to analyze the complexities of oppression.

Question 47

Why do Feminists focus on personal narratives in their research?

Answer 47

Personal narratives help reveal the impact of patriarchy on individual lives, empowering women to share their stories and challenge societal norms.

Question 48

How do Feminists address ethical issues in their research?

Answer 48

Feminists prioritize the voices and agency of participants, aiming to minimize power imbalances and ensure their research benefits women.

Question 49

How do Feminists study the media using methods in context?

Answer 49

Feminists use content analysis and discourse analysis to examine how media reinforces gender stereotypes and objectifies women.

Question 50

How do Feminists critique traditional sociology?

Answer 50

Feminists argue that traditional sociology often marginalizes or ignores women’s issues, focusing on male perspectives and reinforcing patriarchal assumptions.

Question 51

How do Feminists study violence against women using methods in context?

Answer 51

Feminists use interviews and surveys to uncover the prevalence and experiences of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Question 52

How do Feminists use participatory research?

Answer 52

Participatory research involves collaborating with women as co-researchers to challenge traditional researcher-participant power dynamics and create empowering studies.

Question 53

What is the Feminist approach to global development research?

Answer 53

Feminists investigate how global inequalities, such as exploitation in labor markets or lack of access to education, disproportionately affect women.