Methods of research - Research Issues

Question 1

Theoretical research considerations

Topic choice

Answer 1

• Intended audience may influence topic choice and in some cases dicate.
• If testing a hypothesis topic is narrower in scope.
• Influenced by researchers values - personal interest or funding
• Funding can have an influence on topic. e.g the government may want research about a social issue to help develop better polices.

Question 2

Theoretical research considerations

Choice of method

Answer 2

• Interactionists avoid statistical methods (they are not trying to establish causality.
• Positivists are not interested in descriptive accounts so use objective methods.
• A researchers beliefs about the reliability and validity of particular methods.
• Affected by the topic being studied
• Venkatesh wanted to experience it for himself. (Ppt observation).
• Time is a consideration - some methods are more time consuming.
• Amount of funding available

Question 3

Ethical research considerations

Legal considerations

Answer 3

• Very important when studying illegal behaviour eg. Dittons study of workplace theft.
• Researcher has to decide whether it’s ethical to research something like criminal behaviour.
• To avoid ethical dilemma in ppt observations.
• Ppts should be aware of possible consequences of their co-operation eg. negative media publicity
• Should gain informed consent
• Relationships need to be based on trust and honesty.

Question 4

Ethical research considerations

Safety

Answer 4

• Some methods eg. Covert ppt observation involve deep involvement with subjects.
• A researcher has to take care not to upset or distress potentially weak/vulnerable people at the end of the study. (Its unethical to just break contact because a relationship may have been formed)

Question 5

Ethical research considerations

Ethical practice

Answer 5

1. Is it true? unethical behaviour can be deliberately febricated by researchers.
   2.** Is it fair?** Who can ethically claim ownership to be the author. Is their plagiarism?
   3.** Is it wise? **Is the research morally justified or would a different research topic or method have greater moral argument?

Question 6

Validty

Answer 6

• Methods and data are only useful if they actually measure or describe what they claim to measure or describe.
• The closer we get to studying people in their natural environment the more likely we are to get valid data.
• **Lab experiments **have low ecological validity (artificial situation)
• Covert ppt observation has higher validity (people are acting in ‘real-life’.
• Methods that produce **qualitative data **have higher validity then quantitative methods. Qualitative methods get closer to the experience and perceptions of those being studied.

Question 7

Reliabilty

Answer 7

• How effective a research approach is at collecting consistent, repeatible data.
• Same results should be achieved each time
• Easier to achieve a standardised approach using **quantitative methods. **
• Its difficult to ensure subjects have the same characteristics as the orginal group so not always high in relability.
• Qualitative methods eg. ppt observation are almost impossible to repeat so tend to have low reliability.

Question 8

Objectivity

Answer 8

• A researcher must try to maintain an objective detachment.
• Positivists argue that we can study objective features of the social world becuase they are solid and permanent.
• Objectivity involves that idea that social structures are real and can be experienced directly or indirectly.
• Objectivity requires a researcher to place themselves outside of the behaviour they are studying.
• Their personal beliefs and values should not influence what they see.
• Interpretivists believe the aim of social reseach is subjective understanding.

Question 9

Representativeness

Answer 9

• Is the sample an accurate cross-section of the population?
• Survey based research is often based on a unrepresentative sample and will lack validity > findings cannot be validly generalised to the target population.

Question 10

Sociological research complexity

Answer 10

• Different sociologists see the social world differently.
• For some, conducting experiments without consent can be morally justified because the results may prove valuable but for others this behaviour is morally wrong and scientifically incorrect.
• Those who believe the social world consists of natural responses to social stimulation will study it in a different way from those who believe it is socially constructed through everyday behaviour and meanings.