Research Methods

• Stages of carrying out research:

  1. Hypothesis - a statement/question that can be investigated
  2. Design your study - choosing the correct research methods and sampling strategy
  3. Conduct a pilot study - designed to see if the main study is feasible (convenient)
  4. Apply your research method by collecting primary/secondary data
  5. Analyse data to see if its reliable, to make it into useful information, and to represent it using graphs/charts to investigate trends and patterns
  6. Draw reasoned conclusions that are presented in a clear and useful manner.
• Ethical Issues (Part 1):

  • Consent - participant must give their permission to take part
  • Informed Consent - Participants must be made aware of any dangers/risks, and be made aware of their right to withdraw
  • Safety - Researcher have a duty to protect their participant and not to expose them to undue risks (emotional distress)
  • Sensitivity - Researchers should be sensitive when dealing with vulnerable groups
• Ethical Issue (Part 2):

  
  

  • Debriefing - At the end of the experiment, participants must be given an explanation of the nature of research and how the experiment works
  • Confidentiality/Anonymity - Researchers must respect their confidentiality of their participant
  • Not misrepresenting data - Researchers must have integrity: they must be honest and not tamper with data
• Sampling (Part 1):

  • Random Sampling - this is when everyone has an equal chance of being selected
  • Systematic Sampling - choosing randomly from a list (E.G; every 5th, 10th or 20th person).
  • Stratified Sampling - to make the sample as representative as possible, the sample frame will be divided into a number of smaller groups (E.G; social class, age, gender, ethnicity).Individuals are then drawn at random from these groups.
• Sampling (Part 2):

  • Snowball Sampling - this is when u ask your participants to recommend other participants
  • Opportunity Sampling - the most convenient or suitable people are picked
  • Cluster Sampling - the researcher divides the population into separate groups called clusters. A random sample of clusters is selected from the population
  • Quota Sampling - Interviews must question an exact quota (number) of people from categories (E.G; females, teenager) in proportion to the numbers in the wider population.