Primary methods

• Pilot study

  Small piece of research before the main study, used to:

  • Check validity and reliability
  • Operationalise key concepts
  • Test questions and procedures
  • Gain insight into timings
  • Train staff
  • Get earlier data so funding can be provided
• Social surveys


  Systematic collection of information about the population

  Tend to be used by positivists as a primary source of quantitative data

  Standardised questionnaires and structured interviews
• Longitudinal studies


  Research that takes place over a long period of time

  Data is collected regularly and are often large scale quantitative surveys, used by POSITIVISTS
• Questionnaires


  Three types:

  • Open
  • Closed
  • Scaled

  Mainly produced quantitative data being preferred by POSITIVISTS. The standardised questions make them reliable

  
  

  When they use open ended questions, they provide more insight into the participant (meanings and motives). This type is preferred by INTERPRETIVISTS
• Guidelines for questionnaires


  You should:

  • Use simple and clear questions
  • Give clear instructions to the respondent
  • Have a clear layout that isn't complicated
  • Ask related questions to the study

  You should not:

  • Ask embarrassing, threatening or complex questions
  • Ask two questions instead of one
  • Be too long
  • Use sociological terms that everyday people won't understand
  • Lead the respondent to answer the question in a certain way
• Interviews


  An interview is a social process of interaction between two or more people

  An interviewer should create a relaxed and welcoming environment for the the interviewees

  The interviewer effect is when there is deviation from the true answer. This can be caused by the characteristics of the interviewe, opinions of the researcher and influences over the interviewee
• Types of interviews


  Structured:

  • Ask set questions without variation
  • High reliability
  • Use closed questions
  • Quantitative data Used in large social surveys

  Unstructured:

  • Informal
  • No rigid structure
  • Open questions
  • Qualitative data
  • Requires skill
  • Allows interviewer to build verstehen