research process

Question 1

what is the research process?

Answer 1

Theory 
Hypothesis 
Operationalisation 
Fieldwork 
Presentation of results

Question 2

what is the theory stage of the research process?

Answer 2

most sociologists usually start their own research by looking at existing ideas and explanations that have been formulated by other sociologist carrying out research into the same subject area

Question 3

what is the hypothesis stage of the research process?

Answer 3

this is a particular idea that the sociologist wants to explore and is et out as a statement that they then test by carrying out research

Question 4

what is the Operationalisation stage of the research process?

Answer 4

in order to test a particular hypothesis the researcher must choose a method of research, define any concepts used, decide if any specific measurement will be used and decide how they will find a sample of subjects to use for their research.

sub stages of operationalisation:

• the sociologist chooses a suitable method to test the ideas they wish to explore
• the sociologist define each concept being used in the research eg if a sociologist is exploring class they might define class according to occupation
• the sociologist may decide to use a specific measuring technique in which case setting measurement must be done before the actual research takes place
• as it is impossible to carry out research on large numbers of people, researchers will sample from the relevant population and generalise the results from this sample

Question 5

what is the Fieldwork stage of the research process?

Answer 5

• this is when the researcher carries out actual research by implementing the chosen method eg by caring out a questionnaire

Question 6

what is the Presentation of results stage of the research process?