Factors influencing choice of topic

• The sociologists perspective

  a sociologists perspective may influence their topic choice.

  • a feminist is more likely to study domestic violence.
  • a new right thinker might research lone parent families.
  • a marxist may research the effects of crime on capitalism.
  • a functionalist may research how the family benefits society.
• Social and practical factors.

  Social - as the values of society change, so will the topic of research - research now focuses more on women due to the rise of feminism.

  Practical - some research may be inaccessible for example, research into cults or government decision making.