CHOICE OF TOPIC + RESEARCH DESIGN

• What influences the choice of research topic?

  Personal interest
• How do theoretical perspectives influence topic choice?

  They guide researchers towards specific themes
• What type of topics do feminist perspectives focus on?

  Gender topics
• What do funding organizations expect from researchers?

  Some resource investments
• Why might researchers choose topics related to funding opportunities?

  To align with available financial support
• What factors influence the choice of research topic?

  • Personal interest
  • Theoretical perspectives
  • Funding opportunities
  • Academic funding bodies' interests
• Who primarily funds sociological research?

  Academic funding bodies of universities
• What are academic funding bodies concerned about?

  Research questions, design, and originality
• What are the main factors that influence the choice of research topic in sociology?

  Personal interest, theoretical perspective, funding, and opportunity
• How do academic funding bodies influence the choice of research topics in sociology?

  They are more likely to fund research that aligns with their broad interests
• What is the purpose of a pilot study in sociological research?

  To conduct a trial run of the research method with a small sample
• Why is the operationalization of concepts an important issue in sociological research?

  To make abstract concepts measurable for the research
• How do sociologists need to approach the operationalization of concepts in their research?

  They need to carefully define, measure, and use the key concepts
• What are the key considerations for sociologists when choosing a research topic?

  • Personal interest
  • Alignment with theoretical perspectives (e.g. feminism)
  • Funding availability from academic bodies
  • Opportunities for new or under-researched areas
• How do sociologists approach the research design process?

  • Conduct a pilot study to test the research method
  • Operationalize key concepts to make them measurable
  • Consider issues around defining, measuring, and using concepts