Social Science Research Methods

Question 1

Why do we need more social research?

Answer 1

Be more confident in answering questions about social life

Question 2

Why do doctors need to know about social research methods?

Answer 2

Policies and practices are based on social science research
Have a responsibility as a Dr to be able to access, appraise and use this research
Need to integrate and critically evaluate multiple resources

Question 3

What are the two types of social science research?

Answer 3

Quantitative and qualitative

Question 4

What type of research is quantitative research?

Answer 4

Collection of numerical data

Begin with an idea/hypothesis

By deduction, allow conclusions to be drawn about relationships between variables, and sometimes about causal relationships

Question 5

What are some strengths of quantitative research?

Answer 5

Reliability
Repeatability

Good at describing, measuring, finding relationships between things, allowing comparisons

Question 6

Give some examples of quantitative research methods

Answer 6

RCTs
Cohort studies
Case-control studies
Cross-sectional studies
Secondary analysis of data from other sources
Questionnaires

Question 7

What sources of data can be used for secondary analysis

Answer 7

Official statistics eg census
Other national surveys conducted by charities, unis etc
Local and regional surveys eg by unis, NHS, councils

Question 8

What can questionnaires be used for?

Answer 8

Measure of exposure to risk factors
Effects of lifestyle
Dietary factors
Knowledge and attitudes
Satisfaction with health services

Question 9

What do questionnaires need to be?

Answer 9

Valid ie measure what they are supposed to

Reliable ie measure things consistently

Question 10

How can questionnaires be completed?

Answer 10

Self completed on paper
By phone
Interview
Internet

Question 11

Disadvantages of quantitative research?

Answer 11

Force people into inappropriate categories
May not allow people to express things as they want
May not access all the important info
May not be effective at establishing causality

Question 12

What is the aim of qualitative research?

Answer 12

Understand the perspective of those in a situation
Access info not revealed by quantitative approaches
Explain relationships between variables

Question 13

Problems with qualitative methods?

Answer 13

Not good at finding consistent relationships between variables
Generalisabilty - dangerous to infer views from a small sample size to the population as a whole

Question 14

What are some methods of qualitative data collection?

Answer 14

Ethnography and observation
Interviews
Focus groups
Documentary and media analysis

Question 15

What is ethnography?

Answer 15

Studying human behaviour in its natural context - observe what people actually do instead of relying on what they tell you

Question 16

Advantages of observation?

Answer 16

Access to behaviour of which individuals may provide a biased account or are unaware of
Can record everyday life which interviewees may not think is worth mentioning
Insight into what actually happens

Question 17

What are semi-structured interviews like?

Answer 17

Structured by a prompt guide
Clear agenda of topics but no strict order
Conversational in style
Emphasis on participants giving their perspective and interviewer should facilitate this.

Question 18

What is a qualitative interview like?

Answer 18

Focused and detailed
Gives accounts relating to an issue of interest
Gives someone’s professed views of or explanation of the issue

Question 19

Give advantages of focus groups

Answer 19

Flexible method - quick way for establishing parameters or for accessing group-based, collective understanding of an issue

Question 20

Disadvantages of a focus group?

Answer 20

Not useful for individual experience
Some topics may be too sensitive
Difficult to arrange, need a fairly homogenous group and a good facilitator to manage group dynamics

Question 21

How is qualitative data analysed?

Answer 21

Close inspection of data
Identify themes
Produce specification for themes
Assign data to themes
Constantly compare data analysis against themes

Question 22

What does the approach of research depend on?

Answer 22

Topic under investigation
Research team’s preferences and expertise
Time and money available
Funders and/or audience