Studied by 0 peopleP - How does time affect the research method a sociologist uses?
some methods are quicker than others - eg questionnaires are far quicker than participant observation
P - How does cost affect the research method a sociologist uses?
some methods are cheaper than others - eg questionnaires are cheaper than participant observation
P - How does subject matter affect the research method a sociologist uses?
only certain methods may reveal things depending on topic - eg participant observation may be the only way to study groups
P - How do personal characteristics affect the research method a sociologist uses?
personality/characteristics of researcher - eg hard for white m/c female to observe a gang
P - How does hardship/danger affect the research method a sociologist uses?
some methods are more physically demanding - especially if covert or participant
P - How does the recording of data affect the research method a sociologist uses?
easier to accurately record data with some methods - eg in overt non-participant observations
E - Give six ethical issues a sociologist needs to take into account when deciding a research method.
informed consent, deception, privacy, confidentiality, protection from harm, guilty knowledge
E - What is informed consent?
ensuring ppts are aware they are taking part and the possible consequences of the study
E - Why might uninformed consent or a lack of consent be justified?
to reduce Hawthorne effect (ppts behaviour changes as aware of study) so data is still valid
E - Why might deception be justified?
if researcher cannot enter group overtly or to reduce Hawthorne effect
E - When might an invasion of privacy be unavoidable?
if using covert techniques as not going into private areas may blow cover
E - What two types of harm should a researcher protect participants from?
physical and psychological harm
E - What is guilty knowledge?
research finds out about illegal behaviour so have moral dilemma about whether to report behaviour and breach confidentiality or protect participants
T - Define validity.
data honestly/accurately reflects what it intends to
T - Define reliability.
data is replicable and produces similar results
T - Briefly outline what positivism is.
society is bigger than individual and influences actions, research should be objective/non-biased to establish social facts, use scientific methods, look for causal or correlational relationships in data
T - Briefly outline what interpretivism is.
individuals create society so need to study interactions between members of society, prefer qualitative methods, try to establish verstehen (empathy)
T - Give one other theoretical factor.
representativeness
Note
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