Practical Issues

Question 1

Name 5 practical issues

Answer 1

-time and money
-requirements or funding bodies
-personal skills and characteristics
-subject matter
-research opportunity

Question 2

Why is time and money a practical issue?

Answer 2

Different methods require different amounts of time and money, this may influence the sociologists choice
Eg. Large scale lots of staff costing lots of money, but faster
Small scale less staff costing less money but slower

Question 3

Why is requirements of funding bodies a challenge?

Answer 3

They may require the results to be in a particular form

Question 4

Why are personal skills and characteristics a challenge?

Answer 4

Personal skills may affect their ability to use different methods
Eg participant observation requires the ability to mix easily with others

Question 5

Why is subject matter a challenge?

Answer 5

It may be harder to study a group or subject by using one method than by another
Eg may be difficult for a male sociologist to tidy an all female group rather than a male group

Question 6

Why is research opportunity a challenge?

Answer 6

-opportunity can occur unexpectedly so may not be possible to use methods eg structured questionnaires