research design

Cards (11)

    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