Research Methods - not done 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.
What are criticisms of interpretivists?
It is difficult to achieve objectivity in research as the researcher’s own beliefs, interpretations, and cultural preferences can affect the research outcomes.
What is the mixed methods approach to research methods?
- Nowadays, the distinction between qualitative and quantitative approaches is less rigid
- Sociologists acknowledge that both can be combined and are crucial for gaining knowledge about society
- In order to produce both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study, sociologists employ a mixed methods approach
What does a mixed methods approach to research methods allow sociologists do?
- create a complete picture of the topic they are researching
- enable connections and comparisons to be made
- take advantage of the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative data
- cross-check the results of a qualitative and quantitative approach; this is referred to as triangulation
What is sampling?
Another part of the research process is where the sociologist identifies the population they want to study, e.g.
- people (students, stay-at-home dads, single mums)
- institutions (schools, hospitals, prisons)
It can be impossible to question the full population so a sample or subgroup of the population will need to be studied
What is a sampling frame?
A full list of all members of the population the sociologist wants to study, e.g.
- school registers
- the voters roll
- Royal Mail’s list of postcodes
What happens if the sampling frame is inaccurate?
If the sampling frame is inaccurate, the sample drawn from it will not be representative or typical of the wider population
As a result, extrapolating or generalising the results to the wider population is difficult
What are the 2 types of sampling methods?
In order to select a sample, sociologists can choose from a variety of sampling techniques known as probability and non-probability sampling
What is probability sampling?
Each member of the sampling frame has a known chance of being selected
What are the 3 types of probability sampling?
- random
- systematic random
- stratified random
What is random sampling?
- Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected
- Researchers use random name generators to select their sample
What is systematic random sampling?
- Involves taking every ‘nth’ participant from the sampling frame (such as every 5th name on a register)
- If the population consists of 500 students and a sample of 100 is required, the researcher will randomly select a number between 1 and 5 until the required number of participants are chosen
What is stratified random sampling?
- The researcher may want the sample to reflect the age and gender of the population
- Stratified sampling involves dividing the population into strata or subgroups, such as females 30 and under; males 31 and over
- A sample is drawn randomly from each strata in proportion to their numbers in the population
- E.g. if 20% of the population were females aged 31+, then the sample must consist of 20% of females aged 31+
What are strengths of probability sampling methods?
- Bias is reduced as the researcher has no influence over who is selected
- Samples are selected that aim to be representative of the population
What are weaknesses of probability sampling methods?
- Difficult and time-consuming to conduct in comparison to non-probability sampling methods, as a sampling frame may be difficult to obtain
- Participants selected may refuse to take part so a completely representative sample may not be possible
What is non-probability sampling?
These sampling methods are used where no sampling frame is available, such as homeless people or class A drug users
What are the 3 types of non-probability sampling?
- Snowball
- Quota
- Purposive
What is snowball sampling?
The researcher contacts one member of the population, gradually gaining their confidence and trust until they are willing to identify others in the same population who may participate in research
What is quota sampling?
- Often used by market researchers who interview people on the street
- They have to interview an exact quota (number) of people from certain categories in proportion to their numbers in the wider sample (similar to stratified sampling)
What is purposive sampling?
- This sample is selected according to a known characteristic
- Examples include being a headteacher, an MP or a cancer survivor
What are strengths of non-probability sampling methods?
- Convenient methods as they save the researcher a lot of time and effort in comparison to probability sampling methods
- May be the only way a researcher can obtain a sample
What are weaknesses of non-probability sampling methods?
- Biased as the researcher has control over who is selected; for instance, they may avoid people they don’t like the look of
- A representative sample cannot be selected so findings cannot be generalised to the wider population
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