research methods- paper 1

Question 1

Give 4 practical issues that have to be considered for choosing a research method

Answer 1

Time and money
requirements of funding bodies-e.g government funding
personal skills and characteristics- easily mixing with other people
Research opportunity

Question 2

Give 4 ethical issues that need to be considered when choosing a rsm

Answer 2

Informed consent- ppts offered the right to withdraw and give a debrief of the study
Confidentiality and privacy
Harm to research ppts
Vulnerable groups- take special care

Question 3

Give 3 theoretical considerations in choosing a rsm

Answer 3

-representativeness
-validity
-reliability

Question 4

Why do positivist prefer quantitative data?

Answer 4

Because they can analyze them to see if there are patterns in the info, such as cause and effect relationships- allows them to construct laws or theories of social behaviours that can be generalised to the wider population
Also it is seen as scientific

Question 5

What do positivists believe?

Answer 5

That the social world is made up of social facts which can influence the way we think, feel and behave. They

Question 6

What do Interprevists believe?

Answer 6

Interested in deeper insights into human behaviour and what influences our behaviour

Question 7

Why do Interprevists favour qualitative data? What method do they prefer?

Answer 7

-Because it allows them to achieve a deeper insight into and understanding of meanings and motives that govern people’s behaviour- –Prefer “unstructured” methods as they’re more reliable and representative