research design

• 1. the sociologists perspective

  {factors affecting topic choice}

  • the theoretical viewpoint the sociologist has will affect what they want to study
  • ie marxists = interested in class inequalities in society
• 2. societies values

  {factors affecting topic choice}

  • when values in society change, so does the focus of the research sociologists undertake
  • ie the increase of feminism in the 1960s led to more research on gender inequality
• 3. practical factors

  {factors affecting topic choice}

  • practical factors can affect topic choice
  • these include time, funding, access, personal characteristics, trends in research
• 4. funding bodies

  {factors affecting topic choice}

  • sociologists often need funding to cover the costs of their study
  • there are funding bodies who can provide economic support -> ie the social research council {ERSC}
  • the funding body may state what they want to be studied, as they are paying for the research
• 1. formulation of a hypothesis

  {the research process}

  • a hypothesis is a general explanation that can be tested by collecting evidence that can be proved / disproved
  • presented as a statement -> "middle class students outperform working class students"
  • the sociologists will either confirm or disprove
  • favoured by positivists
• 1. formulation of an aim

  {the research process}

  • more appropriate than a hypothesis in some situations
  • an aim is broader & outlines what the researcher intends to study
  • interpretivists favor this approach as it allows research to be guided by participants
• 2. choice of method

  {the research process}

  • sociologists must choose their method
  • ie questionnaire, survey, observation etc
• 3. operationalising concepts

  {the research process}

  • defining concepts & ideas in order to measure them
  • ie social class
• 4. pilot study

  {the research process}

  • a pilot study is a draft version of the research which is carried out on a small sample

  
• 5. data collection

  {the research process}

  • the research is carried out in full
• 6. publish findings

  {the research process}

  • the sociologist interprets the data & analyses their data to identify their conclusions
  • a report will be written that details the research process
  • their findings will then be publishes