Research Methods Flashcards
Why do sociologists carry out research?
- Sociologists carry out research in order to collect evidence to contribute to our understanding of modern society
- Research findings provide important information for policy makers, government and local authorities
- Once a sociologist has carried out a literature review, they will ask questions that have not been addressed yet
- During this research process, they try to answer these questions in the form of research aims or hypotheses
What is a research aim?
Research aims give the study a clear focus by outlining the researcher’s intended investigation.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a well-informed guess. Written as a testable statement, it will either be supported or refuted by the evidence.
What are examples of varieties of sources that sociologists use to formulate their research questions, aims, and hypotheses?
- one of their earlier studies in which they found something unexpected or intriguing
- their review of existing literature on a specific topic
- new technological advancements, like social media
- their own personal interests and experiences
- significant and current social issues, such as the cost of living or the current political climate
What is a pilot study?
- A pilot study is a small-scale trial study carried out before the main research
- It usually involves a very small sample of participants
- It allows the researcher to check whether the main study will generate relevant data that can help answer the research questions and aims
- During a pilot study, the researcher can test the chosen research methods and ensure that they are appropriate and cost-effective
- A pilot study is an important part of the research process as it may save time, money and effort in the long run
What are examples of potential problems that a pilot study helps identify and address?
- ambiguous or confusing phrasing of questions
- repetitive questions
- the questionnaire takes too long to complete
What are some examples of research methods available to sociologists?
- questionnaires
- interviews
- observations
- content analysis
What is the method that sociologists decide to use influenced by?
- practical issues e.g. time and money available
- ethical issues e.g. informed consent, confidentiality and data protection
- theoretical issues e.g. the debate about positivism and interpretivism
What is positivism?
- Positivists believe that the only way to obtain knowledge about the world is through scientific methods like those natural scientists use.
- Positivists prefer a scientific approach to studying the social world, i.e., developing hypotheses and testing them to discover the facts.
How do positivists aim to understand behaviour?
Positivists focus on behaviour that can be observed and measured rather than on people’s feelings or emotions
What are positivists preferred research methods?
Positivists prefer research methods such as large-scale surveys; these are known as quantitative methods as they gather facts and figures to describe society in statistical terms.
What are criticisms of positivists?
Critics argue that scientific methods can’t be applied to sociology because people are completely different from the things studied in the natural sciences.
What is interpretivism?
Interpretivists believe that sociologists should use non-scientific methods to study the social world. This is because people are completely different from the subject matter studied in the natural sciences, so scientific methods are inappropriate.
How do interpretivists aim to understand behaviour?
Interpretivists like to explore people’s behaviour and intentions and understand the meaning behind their behaviour.
What are interpretivists preferred research methods?
Interpretivists prefer research methods such as in-depth interviews and participant observation; these are qualitative methods as they collect rich, detailed accounts rather than statistics.
