Research methods

• What is the first step in the research process according to the study material?

  Choosing a topic to research
• How can a researcher's personal interest influence their choice of research topic?

  A researcher's personal interest can guide them towards specific areas they wish to study.
• What are the two perspectives that may affect the topic chosen to study?

  The theoretical perspective and the methodological perspective.
• What are some areas of interest for different sociological perspectives?

  • Functionalists may research aspects of society.
  • Feminists may focus on gender relations.
  • Interactionists may study close relationships.
• What is the aim of a research study?

  The aim is a statement that identifies what a sociologist intends to study and achieve.
• What is a hypothesis in sociological research?

  A hypothesis is a testable statement that a researcher will address in their research.
• How would you operationalize a hypothesis?

  By defining key concepts and determining how to measure them.
• What is an example of operationalizing a hypothesis related to social class?

  Using parental jobs as a measure of social class.
• What factors can affect educational achievement according to the study material?

  • Family size
  • Teacher labeling of students from ethnic minority groups
  • Attitudes towards teachers in school subcultures
• What is material deprivation?

  Material deprivation refers to the lack of financial resources that can negatively impact educational achievement.
• How do social policies affect education?

  Social policies can influence the resources and opportunities available to different social classes.
• What is a social survey?

  A social survey is a method of gathering primary data from a large number of people, usually in a standardized form.
• What are the two basic formats of questions in social surveys?

  Closed questions and open-ended questions.
• Why might surveys be preferred by positivists?

  Surveys can provide quantitative data that is easier to analyze statistically.
• What is a sampling frame?

  A sampling frame is a list of all members of the population being studied.
• What are the different sampling methods mentioned in the study material?

  • Random sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Opportunity sampling
  • Snowball sampling
  • Systematic sampling
• What is volunteer bias in sampling methods?

  Volunteer bias occurs when certain types of people are more likely to volunteer for a study, leading to a biased sample.
• What is the purpose of a pilot study?

  A pilot study is a small-scale replica of the main research proposal to identify potential problems.
• What should be included in a research project proposal?

  • Reasons for topic choice
  • Aim/Hypothesis
  • Sampling details
  • Data collection method
  • Pilot study details
• What is the difference between primary and secondary data?

  Primary data is collected firsthand by the researcher, while secondary data is previously collected data.
• What is qualitative data?

  Qualitative data refers to all data not in the form of numbers, including descriptive data and quotes.
• What is quantitative data?

  Quantitative data is data in the form of numbers that can be analyzed statistically.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative data?

  Strengths:

  • Provides personal insights
  • Rich, descriptive data

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Often unrepresentative
  • Potential for researcher bias
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative data?

  Strengths:

  • Can establish cause and effect
  • Representative findings from large samples

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • May lack depth
  • Cannot capture complex social phenomena
• What type of data includes descriptive data, quotes, and observations?

  Qualitative data
• What is a strength of qualitative data in sociology?

  It allows sociologists to gain insight into people's lives.
• What is a potential weakness of qualitative research?

  The researcher can become biased due to personal involvement.
• Why is it important to collect a broad sample in research?

  To ensure representative findings.
• What is an example of qualitative data?

  Personal diaries
• What is the purpose of using closed questions in surveys?

  To provide quantifiable data for analysis.
• What is primary data?

  Information generated by the researcher.
• What is secondary data?

  Data that already exists and was not generated by the researcher.
• What are examples of secondary data?

  Official statistics and historical records.
• What is a disadvantage of qualitative secondary sources?

  They may raise questions about authenticity and credibility.
• How can qualitative secondary sources be beneficial in research?

  They provide a detailed picture of people's attitudes and behaviors.
• What is a limitation of quantitative secondary sources?

  They only show correlation, not cause and effect.
• What is an example of quantitative secondary data?

  Census data
• Why are official statistics useful in sociology?

  They help in planning educational policies and making comparisons.
• What is a potential issue with using official statistics?

  They may not include unreported crimes.
• What is content analysis in sociology?

  It is a systematic research technique for analyzing texts and documents.