Sociology - Research Methods

• Culture


  The whole way of life of a group of people in society e.g. clothes, food, music
• Norms


  These define appropriate and expected behaviour in different certain settings e.g. classroom, cinema, restaurant
• Values


  Ideas and beliefs that people have about what is desirable and worth striving for e.g. privacy & respect
• Socialisation


  Learning the norms and values of your culture and society
• Primary socialisation


  This takes place in early childhood and is where we learn basic behaviours and skills we need. Family are responsible
• Nature


  The idea that behaviour and characteristics are innate (we are born with them) and due to biology
• Nurture


  The idea that behaviour and characteristics are learnt from our environment (sociologists believe this)
• Social structures


  These form society's framework and set limits and guide behaviour e.g. family, class
• Social processes


  The ways that humans are affected by their interactions with others in society e.g. racism
• Status


  A person's social standing or position in society. This can be affected by gender, age, class etc.
• Functionalist approach


  • Society is positive and is in harmony
  • There is value consensus – everyone agrees on what is important
  • Society is like a human body, we need all parts of it to be able to function
  • Agencies such as family, education and crime all help to keep society running smoothly and these are positive
  • No group in society has more power than another group
• Weber's approach


  • People's ideas, values and skills have more of an influence on their position in society than class and money
  • Status (someone's social position) is not always linked to their class/money
• Marxist approach


  • Society is negative and is based on conflict
  • Capitalism creates a divide between two social classes
  • The ruling class (bourgeoisie) own the businesses and exploit the working class (proletariat) for profit
  • Family, education, crime etc. all work to keep the class divide and benefit the ruling class
  • The working class do not realise they are being exploited
  • The only way to overcome this inequality is a revolution (and society becoming communist)
• Feminist approach


  • Society is negative and is based on conflict
  • Society is divided by gender and is based on patriarchy (male domination and power)
  • Men have power and dominance in society and women are oppressed
  • Family, education, crime etc. all work to keep the gender divide and exploit women
• Interactionist approach


  • Society does not influence everyone in the same way
  • Everyone's experiences are different, you can't generalise about behaviour
  • People can be labelled as something (e.g. clever, naughty) which can affect how they see themselves
  • People might accept and live up to the label through a self-fulfilling prophecy
• Consensus theories


  • These theories believe society is based on consensus (agreement) and is in harmony
  • Everyone shares the same norms and values and no one group has more power than another
• Conflict theories


  • These theories believe society is based on conflict (disagreement) and is divided
  • People in society have different norms/beliefs/values
  • Some groups have more power than others
• New Right approach


  • Society should be based on traditional values such as marriage
  • People should not be reliant on welfare benefits as this can create an underclass
  • Nuclear families are the best type (with a married mum and dad) and lone-parent families can cause issues
• Aim


  A general statement about what a sociologist expects to find out in research
• Hypothesis


  A prediction about what the sociologist expects they will find in research
• Pilot study


  A small test-run of a study which is carried out before the main study to check for any problems (e.g. equipment)
• Sampling


  How participants are chosen to take part in a study (e.g. volunteer, opportunity)
• Primary data


  Data which is collected first hand by the researchers (e.g. using a questionnaire or interview)
• Quantitative data


  Data which IS in the form of numbers
• Qualitative data


  Data which is NOT in the form of numbers and tends to be visual or in letters (e.g. diaries, photographs)
• Validity


  The accuracy of the findings – how truthful the data is
• Reliability


  How consistent the findings are. If we repeated the study, would we find the same results?
• Primary research methods


  • Questionnaires
  • Structured interviews (set questions)
  • Unstructured interviews (no set questions)
  • Group interviews
  • Participant observation (researcher joins group)
  • Non-participant observation (watches from a distance)
  • Longitudinal study (follows a group over time)
• Sampling methods


  • Random – all participants have an equal chance of being chosen (e.g. names out of hat)
  • Volunteer – participants choose/self-select to take part (e.g. responding to an advert)
  • Opportunity – participants who are available are chosen
  • Stratified– participants chosen according to % in the population
• Triangulation and mixed methods


  Where a sociologist uses more than one method to find out lots of information about a topic e.g. using a questionnaire, interview and observation. Is used to: Gain more data on a topic, Check the validity/accuracy of the data
• Positivism is the belief that social facts can be studied using scientific methods, such as observation.
• The researcher must be aware that the data collected may not always reflect reality.
• Interpretive sociologists believe that people's subjective experiences are important to understand society.
• Breadwinner


  The person in the family who earns the money, usually the male
• Cereal packet family


  The 'ideal' nuclear family shown in the media and advertising
• Cohabitation


  When two partners live together in a relationship without being married
• Commune


  Self-contained and self-supporting communities where childcare, property etc. are shared
• Conjugal roles


  The domestic roles of married partners-who does what in the home
• Domestic division of labour


  The division of tasks such as housework and childcare in the family
• Double shift


  When women are in full time employment and be responsible for household tasks