(3) Conducting Sociological Research

• What is a research aim?

  A stated intention on what the researcher is trying to investigate
• What is a hypothesis?

  An informed guess that can be supported by evidence or refuted
• What is a pilot study and its aims?

  A small scale trial run of a research conducted before the actual research. It aims to test the procedures of the research and make any necessary improvements in the case of errors like the wording of questionnaires. It also aims to improve the overall quality of the research and help avoid unnecessary work and save time and money which improves the validity and reliability of research
• State the advantages of pilot studies

  • It identifies problems that can be addressed before the main study. Conducting a pilot study may conclude that the research would be impractical or unnecessary and save the researcher time and money before the full study
  • Can help to highlight deficiencies in the researcher’s skills. It can highlight issues in the way a researcher conducts research and overcome potential problems. It can also replace the researcher with a more skilled one
• State the disadvantages of pilot studies

  • Time consuming and costly
  • Different participants may be needed for actual studies due to participant bias like demand characteristics, leading to low validity
• What is a sample and a sample frame?

  A sample is a selection of a population used for a study; a sample frame is a list of all the members of a population
• Why is it important that samples aren’t inaccurate?

  If they are, it may make the sample unrepresentative of the general population and not allow for generalizations
• What is primary data?

  Data collected by the researcher for themselves (known as field research)
• Operationalisation means clearly defining variables and concepts of a research so that they can be objectively measured
• Official statistics are those created and published by governments - they are practical and economical, more valid and representative, useful for comparative research
• Personal documents include diaries, documents photographs and autobiohraphies
• Participant observation is when the observer becomes part of the situation being observed. Covert is closed so they’re unknown, overt is open so they’re known
• Confidential +

  Anonymius+

  Informed consent+

  Right to withdraw
• Quantitative methods are always reliable only and qualitative methods are always valid only