Methods: Research Design Flashcards
PET factors
Practical, theoretical, and ethical factors and influences impact of a sociologists choice of RM.
Practical Factors influencing choice of RM:
Time and Money
Deadlines could influence on choice of method. As some methods are time consuming, whereas some are time efficient. For example interviews can be more time consuming. More lengthy RM are usually also more costly. More researchers involved in a project (Et Al) and the training of researchers can also cause rising costs.
Practical Factors influencing choice of RM:
Funding Body
Whoever is funding the research may be in a position to dictate how they want the research to be conducted, what form results should be in, and the duration of the research. Funding body may also have preference for Qualitative of Quantitative RM.
Practical Factors influencing choice of RM:
Personal Character and Social Skills
The sociologists own personality and character may influence their ability to conduct research. For example a more introverted researcher might choose to use a postal questionnaire because it is more detached. Some research methods are minimal which suit detached personalities.
Practical Factors influencing choice of RM:
Social Status
The Social Status of the researcher could influence a topic they are interested in. Their age, gender, class, and ethnicity could influence their personal opinion on which RM is most appropriate.
Ethics
The moral principles dictating what is right and wrong which guide research.
Practical Factors influencing choice of RM:
Research opportunity
Sometimes the research opportunity turns up unexpectedly whereas in others it is planned well in advance, this will impact on the suitability of certain methods. For example, in a spontaneous research opportunity there is no time to draft questionnaires.
Ethical Issues influencing choice of RM:
Informed Consent
Research participants should be given the opportunity to agree or refuse to participate in research. The decision should be ‘informed’ so some information of the study should be offered, and participants should not be deceived.
Ethical Issues influencing choice of RM:
Confidentiality and Privacy
Researchers should respect the privacy of the participants and their identity and personal information should be kept confidential.
Ethical Issues influencing choice of RM:
Protection
Researchers need to be aware of the possible effects of their work on those they study and where possible try to anticipate and prevent any harmful consequences.
Ethical Issues influencing choice of RM:
Vulnerable groups
Special care should be taken where research participants are particularly vulnerable because of their age, physical, or mental health ect.
Theoretical issues Influencing Choice of RM
There are two contrasting approaches in sociology, referred to as Positivism and Interpretivism. These are based on a very different view and perspective of how society works, what drives our behaviour and how research should be conducted.
Positivism
- Sees sociology as a science
- Takes a top-down approach to society
- Seek to measure the impact of society on behaviour
- Seek to discover patterns of behaviour
- Value detached objective data
- Adopt a macro level of analysis
- Prefer quantitative RM
Interpretivism
- Reject view of sociology as a science
- Take a bottom up approach
- Seek to understand social actors’ meanings
- Seek to interpret and understand behaviour
- Recognise the value of subjective in-depth data
- Adopt a micro level on analysis
- Prefer qualitative RM
Stages of Research Design:
Choosing a topic
Sociologists need to choose what topic they wish to study, this will be guided by:
- Theoretical perspective
- Personal Identity, Status
- Contemporary significance
- Research bodies
- Personal interests