types of research

• What do sociologists want to explore in society?

  They want to explore what we take for granted in society.
• What do sociologists aim to discover about people's lives?

  They want to discover opinions and meanings behind the way people live.
• Why do sociologists investigate differences between people in Britain and other parts of the world?

  They want to investigate why people in Britain are different from people in other parts of the world.
• What do sociologists want to explain about society?

  They want to explain how different parts of society work together.
• What is the goal of sociologists in understanding the world?

  They want to understand the world we live in, in a more in-depth way.
• What do sociologists want to explore regarding trends and patterns?

  They want to explore trends and patterns.
• What are the two different types of research in sociology?

  • Primary Research
  • Secondary Research

  
• What is primary research in sociology?

  Information gathered directly by the sociologists.

  
• How do sociologists gather information in primary research?

  They speak to the participant directly (face to face).
• What do the findings from primary research depend on?

  The findings are based on interactions, answers, and opinions from participants.
• What does a sociologist know about the information gathered in primary research?

  The sociologist knows exactly where the information has come from, how true the data is, and who has been asked questions.
• What are some methods used in primary research?

  • Interviews
  • Questionnaires
  • Observations
  • Content Analysis
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Experiments
  • Case Studies
• What is secondary research in sociology?

  The information already exists, so it has been collected by somebody else.
• Why is secondary research popular among sociologists?

  It provides a popular source of information for sociologists.
• How is secondary research often used in studies?

  It is often used in research studies.
• What advantage does secondary research provide to sociologists?

  It allows sociologists to examine the past.

  
• What are some methods used in secondary research?

  • Official Statistics
  • Non-Official Statistics
  • Data from Social Surveys
  • Census Data
  • Use of Personal Documents/Diaries
  • Use of Historical documents and evidence
• What is quantitative data?

  Data in numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement.
• How can quantitative data be represented?

  This type of data can be used to construct graphs and tables of data.
• What is qualitative data?

  Qualitative research gathers information that is not in numerical form, normally in a written form (words/sentences).
• How can qualitative data be utilized?

  This type of data can be used to construct written reports and make theories about society.
• What is data in the context of sociology?

  Data is information collected from research.
• How is data used by sociologists?

  Data is used by sociologists in their reports and publications.
• What did surveys of families from ‘Treeville’ reveal?

  78% do not feel they have enough income to meet their needs and desires.
• What was found about family incomes in ‘Treeville’?

  Most families in the town earn less than £20,000 per year.
• What did interviews with families in ‘Treeville’ show about their happiness?

  They find other ways to make them feel happy, even though financial worries exist.
• What was noted about the drinking habits of parents in ‘Treeville’?

  Many of the parents drink over the recommended limit a week.
• What is a participant in sociological research?

  A participant is a person who is taking part in your research.
• How do different types of research affect the kind of participants used?

  For different types of research, you will have different kinds of participants.
• What is a pilot study?

  A pilot study is a small-scale (‘mini’) version of what they would do in the full-scale study.
• Why do sociologists conduct pilot studies?

  To check that the research will work out and to save costs.
• What is a hypothesis?

  A hypothesis is a statement you can test (with research) and is like a prediction about what you will find out.
• What is an example of a hypothesis related to homework?

  Boys will be better at handing in homework when they are older.
• What is an example of a hypothesis regarding parental feelings about work?

  Mothers find leaving their children for work harder than fathers.
• What is an example of a hypothesis about media representation?

  The media shows more negative images of mental illness than positive images.
• What is an example of a hypothesis regarding schooling in the UK?

  Schooling in the UK is not effective in preparing young people for the world of work.
• What are the key characteristics of positivists in sociology?

  • Rooted in the tradition of natural sciences
  • Focus on empirical observation
  • Believe behavior results from objective & universal laws
  • Use quantitative data
• What are the key characteristics of interpretivists in sociology?

  • View social world as complex and unique
  • Focus on subjective experiences and meanings
  • Investigate behavior from a small-scale perspective
  • Use qualitative data
• What is the difference between objective and subjective data?

  Objective is factually true and not open to interpretation, while subjective is based on interpretation.
• What is an example of objective data?

  Chocolate is made with cocoa.