Research Methods in socio Flashcards
What is the Importance of Research Methods?
- separates the discipline from common sense in sociology
- ensures validity and reliability
- increases legitimacy and provides wider acceptance.
What are the types of research designs?
- exploratory Design
- Descriptive research design
- Experimental research design
- comparative method
Longitudinal Research surveys can be summarised as
extended attitude surveys
give an example for longitudinal research
“who becomes delinquent”, DJ west and DP Farrington
They analysed 411 boys starting in the 1940s from London school from age 8 to 18.
Payne and Payne critic for Longitudinal research
the survey of British household lost half of its participants by the tenth year.
what are the quantitative methods for data analysis?
field Experiments statistical data analysis comparative method multivariate analysis laboratory experiment causation correlation
State an example for a Laboratory experiment
Albert Bandura showed different films to different slots of children and observed that the kids who had seen a less violent movie were more sensitized.
What are the cons of Laboratory experiment
cannot fit a community into a laboratory
artificial environment impacts human behaviour
“informed consent” - Payne and Payne
cannot manipulate most of the independent variable inside a laboratory
Write a short note on the comparative method
Ian Craib and Ted Benton describe the comparative method as “analysing different but similar situations and identifying crucial features leading to different outcomes”.
It can be used to develop strong correlation and thus causal relations.
first used by Emile in the book - “the rules of sociological method”.
used by Ginsberg in studying Primitive societies
used by Weber in comparing religions and capitalism
What are different qualitative methods
- Participant observation
- Indirect Observation
- case studies
- unstructured interviewing
suggest some of the quotes quoted by Lee Harvey with respect to Critical Social Science Methodology.
- CSS lies at the very heart of the emancipatory sociological enquiry.
- critique is an integral part of the process.
What are the main features of Critical Social Science Methodology
Abstract Concepts and Ideologies: relating abstract concepts with wider social concepts and establishing these relations.
Totality structure and History: social phenomena are studies in an interconnected total whole. CSS acknowledges the structure of society and the constraints it puts on individuals. Studies of society should study with the historical context.
It considers that knowledge is a process.
Construction and deconstruction lead to reconceptualisation.
Praxis: practical Reflexive activity. Lee Harvey suggests that researchers should become active participant in the social world.
Focuses on oppression based on gender, race, ethnicity and class.
All the approaches in sociology should be critical of society to facilitate change in society.
Criticism ( CSS)
oppression can have multiple dimension.
A researcher might start developing a false consciousness in order to get oppressed people to agree to their research.
no clear distinction between oppressor and oppressed.
even a correct sociological theory cannot overcome oppression.
concerns of Melissa Tyler, Pamela Abbott and Claire Wallace
no specific study of sex and gender.
sociology is concerned with research on men.
men population generalised to the whole population.
concerns regarding women often ignored.
Ann Oakley
advocates feminist way of conducting interviews; more interactive, collaborative and non-hierarchical. the critic gave by Ray Pawson: says that it is the same as the conventional way of unstructured interviewing.
Housework has never been considered important.
