research process

• What types of data can researchers collect?

  Primary and secondary data
• What are some examples of primary research methods?

  Questionnaire, interview, observation, content analysis, longitudinal study, experiment, case study
• What are some examples of secondary data sources?

  Official statistics, non-official statistics, data from social surveys, census data, personal documents, historical documents
• What types of data can be collected in research?

  Qualitative or quantitative data
• Who will be the participants in a research study?

  The individuals selected for the research
• What is a pilot study?

  A small-scale trial run of research to identify issues
• What is a hypothesis in research?

  An idea that a researcher guesses might be true
• How is a hypothesis related to the aim of the research?

  The hypothesis is a testable prediction linked to the aim
• If the aim is to investigate attitudes towards video games, what could be a possible hypothesis?

  Boys will have a more positive attitude towards video games than girls
• What does operationalisation mean in research?

  The process of turning a sociological concept into something measurable
• Why is it important to research existing material before starting new research?

  To avoid repeating studies and to structure questions effectively
• What is a literature review in sociology research?

  A summary of what other researchers have studied before
• What are common research methods in social research?

  Questionnaires, interviews, and observations
• What should researchers consider when planning their research method?

  Questions to ask, number of participants, and recording information
• What is a sample in research?

  A smaller representative group drawn from the population
• Why might a researcher use a sample instead of studying the entire population?

  It is impractical to study the entire population
• What is a pilot study used for?

  To check for initial patterns and issues before the main research
• What adjustments might researchers make after a pilot study?

  Changes based on findings from the pilot study
• What is the most time-consuming part of the research process?

  Carrying out the research on the sample
• How do researchers gather results from quantitative data?

  By creating tally charts, graphs, and statistics
• How do researchers gather results from qualitative data?

  By writing up what people said and highlighting key quotes
• What is the purpose of the analysis phase in research?

  To make sociological statements from the findings
• How can research findings influence sociology?

  They can develop new sociological theories and concepts
• What should researchers evaluate before publishing their work?

  The strengths and weaknesses of their research
• Why is it helpful for other researchers to read evaluations of previous research?

  They can learn from the strengths and mistakes of others
• What are some forms in which researchers can publish their results?

  Books, reports, articles, documentaries, films, TV shows, magazine/newspaper stories
• What are the key steps in the research process?

  1. Identify aim and hypothesis
  2. Research existing material
  3. Plan research method
  4. Create a sample
  5. Conduct a pilot study
  6. Carry out the method
  7. Gather results
  8. Analyze findings
  9. Evaluate research

  10. Publish results