factors influencing research

• access to research subjects - some groups have the power to resist the attentions of sociologists.
• funding - the values of those providing the financing may affect the direction/tone of the research.
• social problems - aspects of social life that cause misery and anxiety to private individuals and society, e.g crime, child abuse, poverty, domestic abuse.
• current debates in the academic world - researchers will be influenced by current affairs
• access and gatekeeping - joining exclusive or deviant groups that tend to shut down outsiders or gaining access to them to conduct research is not impossible but they need a gatekeeper (a person who has contact with a relevant set of individuals)
• interests & value of researcher - some sociologists are strongly attached to the subject of sociology, so they must not allow their personal/political values to affect their research