Introduction to Research Methods

1. Introduction to Research Methods AS Sociology

2. So what is research methods about? • The key concept when looking at research methods is to determine the ways in which sociologist go about developing theories. • A theory is a general explanation of how and why social life follows the patterns it does. • A good theory in sociology is one that explains patterns using evidence.

3. What will you get from this unit? • Quantitive and qualitative methods of research including their strengths and limitations as well as the various research designs, • Sources of data which includes questionnaires, interviews, participant and non participant observations, as well as experiments, documents, official statistics which you will evaluate in order to determine their strengths and limitations.

4. What will you get from this unit? • The distinction between primary and secondary data, between quantitative and qualitative data. • The relationship between positivism, interpretivism and sociological methods; the nature of “social facts”, • The theoretical, practical and ethical consideration influencing of topic, choice of methods and the conduct of research.

5. A visual introduction... • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkEIMMfmSyQ

6. Group Task • On your table group complete page one of your introduction to research methods workbook. • Challenge yourself: How did you come to your conclusions ?

7. Primary and Secondary Data • Primary Data: information collected by sociologist themselves for their own purpose, in order to get a 1st hand picture of a group, society or even to test a hypothesis. • Hypothesis: an untested theory

8. Primary Data • Social surveys, • Participant observations, • Experiments

9. So primary data • Costly • Time consuming • Enables sociologist to gather exactly the information that they seek.

10. Secondary Data • Secondary data: information that has been collected or created by someone else for their own purpose but which another sociologist can use. • Official statistics, • Documents

11. So secondary data • Conflicting interest between those using it, • May not necessarily produce the information you might be after, • Quick, • Cheap,

12. Individual task • Complete page 2 of your introduction to research method workbook.

13. Quantitative and Qualitative Data • Quantitative data: refers to data in numerical form (official statistics on GCSEs result), • Qualitative data: refers to data which gives researchers a feel for what something is like (giving someone a idea of what it would feel like to be part of a certain group) • Note the definition on your RM workbook

14. Factors influencing choice of methods • Different methods and sources of data have different strengths and weaknesses and we need to be able to evaluate these when selecting which to use. • Key question: How do we select the right research method?

15. Practical Issues Issues in terms of practicality when looking at the research methods.

16. Practical Issues • Time and Money, • Requirements of funding bodies, • Personal skills and characteristics • Subject matter, • Research opportunity

17. Ethical Issues Issues of right and wrong which are supported through ethical code set by various agencies

18. Ethical issues • Informed consent, • Confidentiality, • Privacy, • Effects in research participants, • Vulnerable groups, • Covert research,

19. Theoretical Issues Questions about what society is like and whether our research can obtain true and realistic picture of society

20. Theoretical Issues • Validity, • Reliability, • Representativeness, • Methodological perspective

21. Methodological perspective • Sociologist choice of method is also influenced by their perspectives (their view of what society is like and how we should study it) • Two contrasting choice of methods: • Positivism, • Interpretivism

22. Positivist Vs Interpretivist • Prefer quantitative data, • Seek to discover patterns of behaviour, • Sees sociology as a science thus it can be studied scientifically • Prefer qualitative data, • Seek to understand social actors meaning, • Rejects the view that sociology is a science

23. Choice of topic Sociologist before choosing a research methods to use, sociologist must decide on a topic.

24. Choice of topic • Theoretical perspectives, • Society’s values, • Funding bodies, • Practical factors