factors influencing choice of methods

what does the PERVERT acronym stand for

P - practical

E - ethical

R - reliability (can the method be repeated and produce the same results each time)

V - validity (does it give a true picture of reality )

E - example ( are there studies that have already been conducted)

R - representative (does the method allow us to generalise the findings )

T- theoretical

Practical issues

what are the 5 practical issues

• time and money

• requirements of funding bodies

• personal skills and characteristics

• subject matter

• research opportunity

Practical issues - time and money

• Different methods require different amounts of time and money and this may influence the sociologist's choice

• For example, l____-s____ surveys may employ dozens of i____ and d___-i___ staff and cost a lot of money.

• By contrast, a s____-s___ project involving a l____ researcher using p___ o____ may be c____ to carry out, but it can take s____ y___ to complete.

• The researcher's access to what can be a major factor - e.g compare a well-known professor with a young student

Practical issues - time and money

• Different methods require different amounts of time and money and this may influence the sociologist's choice

• For example, large-scale surveys may employ dozens of interviewers and data-inputting staff and cost a lot of money.

• By contrast, a small-scale project involving a lone researcher using participant observation may be cheaper to carry out, but it can take several years to complete.

• The researcher's access to resources can be a major factor - e.g a well-known professor will have access to more research funds than a young student

Practical issues - requirements of funding bodies

• Research institutes, businesses and other organisations that provide the f____ for research may require the results to be in a p____ f___.

• For example, a government department funding research into what may have targets for pass rates and so require q____ data to see what

• This means the sociologist will have to use a method capable of producing such data, such as what 2 things

Practical issues - requirements of funding bodies

• Research institutes, businesses and other organisations that provide the funding for research may require the results to be in a particular form.

• For example, a government department funding research into educational achievement may have targets for pass rates and so require quantitative data to see whether these targets are being achieved

• This means the sociologist will have to use a method capable of producing such data, such as questionnaires or structured interviews.

Practical issues -personal skills and characteristics

• Each sociologist possesses different p____ s___ and this may affect their ability to use different methods.

• For example, participant observation usually requires what types of ability

• while in-depth interviews requires what types of ability

Practical issues -personal skills and characteristics

• Each sociologist possesses different personal skills and this may affect their ability to use different methods.

• For example, participant observation usually requires the ability to mix easily with others as well as good powers of observation and recall,

• while in-depth interviews call for an ability to establish a rapport (relationship of empathy and trust) with the interviewee.

Practical issues -subject matter

• it may be much harder to study a particular group or subject by one method than by another.

• For example, it might prove difficult for a male sociologist to study what

• while written questionnaires may be useless for who

Practical issues -subject matter

• it may be much harder to study a particular group or subject by one method than by another.

• For example, it might prove difficult for a male sociologist to study an all-female group by means of participant observation,

• while written questionnaires may be useless for studying those who cannot read or write.

Practical issues -research opportunity

• Sometimes the opportunity to carry out research occurs u____ and this means that it may not be possible to use s____ methods such as questionnaires, which take l___ to prepare.

• For example, a G____ g___ l___ offered the sociologist J____ P____ (1973) the chance to do what

• With little time to prepare, Patrick had no option but to use what

• In other circumstances, the researcher might have been able to do what

Practical issues -research opportunity

• Sometimes the opportunity to carry out research occurs unexpectedly and this means that it may not be possible to use structured methods such as questionnaires, which take longer to prepare.

• For example, a Glasgow gang leader offered the sociologist James Patrick (1973) the chance 'out of the blue’ to spend time with his gang.

• With little time to prepare, Patrick had no option but to use participant observation.

• In other circumstances, the researcher might have been able to set up the research opportunity carefully beforehand and have plenty of time to select their methods.

ethical issues

• what does ethical issues refer to and which organisation sets out principles

• what are the 5 different ethical issues

ethical issues

Ethics refers to moral issues of right and wrong.The British Sociological Association sets the following principles.

• informed consent

• confidentiality and privacy

• harm to research participants

• vulnerable groups

• covert research

ethical issues - informed consent

• Research participants (the people being studied) should be offered the right to refuse to be involved.

• The researcher should also tell them about all relevant aspects of the research so that they can make a fully informed decision.

• Consent should be obtained before research begins and, if the study is lengthy, again at intervals throughout the process.

ethical issues - informed consent

• Research participants (the people being studied) should be offered the right to refuse to be involved.

• The researcher should also tell them about all relevant aspects of the research so that they can make a fully informed decision.

• Consent should be obtained before research begins and, if the study is lengthy, again at intervals throughout the process.

ethical issues - confidentiality and privacy

• Researchers should keep the identity of research participants s_____ in order to help to prevent what

• Researchers should also respect their p____.

• p_____ i____ concerning research participants should be kept c____.

ethical issues - confidentiality and privacy

• Researchers should keep the identity of research participants secret in order to help to prevent possible negative effects on them.

• Researchers should also respect their privacy.

• Personal information concerning research participants should be kept confidential.

ethical issues - harm to research participants

• Researchers need to be aware of the possible effects of their work on those they study.

• These could include p____ i____, h____ to e____ p____, s____ e___ and p____ d____.

• Wherever possible, researchers should an____ and p___ such harm.

ethical issues - harm to research participants

• Researchers need to be aware of the possible effects of their work on those they study.

• These could include police intervention, harm to employment prospects, social exclusion and psychological damage.

• Wherever possible, researchers should anticipate and prevent such harm.

ethical issues - vulnerable groups

• Special care should be taken where research participants are particulary vulnerable because of their what 4 features

• For example, when studying children in schools, researchers should have regard for issues of what

• They should obtain the c____ of both the child and the parent, and they should provide information in l_____ that the child can u____

ethical issues - vulnerable groups

• Special care should be taken where research participants are particulary vulnerable because of their age, disability, or physical or mental health.

• For example, when studying children in schools, researchers should have regard for issues of child protection.

• They should obtain the consent of both the child and the parent, and they should provide information in language that the child can understand

ethical issues - covert research

• what is covert research

• This can create serious ethical problems, such as d____ or l____ to people in order to win their t____ or obtain i___.

• Clearly, it is impossible to gain what while at the same time keeping the research or its purpose s____.

• However, some sociologists argue that the use of covert methods may be j____ in certain circumstances.

• These may include what

ethical issues - covert research

• Covert research is when the researcher's identity and research purpose are hidden from the people being studied.

• This can create serious ethical problems, such as deceiving or lying to people in order to win their trust or obtain information.

• Clearly, it is impossible to gain informed consent while at the same time keeping the research or its purpose secret.

• However, some sociologists argue that the use of covert methods may be justified in certain circumstances.

• These may include gaining access to secretive, dangerous or powerful groups.

theoretical issues

• what does theoretical issues refer to

• what are the 4 different theoretical issues

theoretical issues

theoretical issues refer to questions about what we think society is like and whether we can obtain an accurate, truthful picture of it

theoretical issues :

• validity

• reliability

• representativeness

• methodological perspective

theoretical issues - validity

• A valid method is one that produces a t____ or g____ picture of what something is really like. It allows the researcher to get closer to what

• Many sociologists argue that q____ methods such as what give us a more v____ or t___ account of what it is like to be a member of a group than what type of method

• This is because p_____ o____ can give us a d____ i____ through f____ h___ e___.

theoretical issues - validity

• A valid method is one that produces a true or genuine picture of what something is really like. It allows the researcher to get closer to the truth.

• Many sociologists argue that qualitative methods such as participant observation give us a more valid or truthful account of what it is like to be a member of a group than quantitative methods such as questionnaires.

• This is because participant observation can give us a deeper insight through first hand experience.

theoretical issues - reliability

• what is another word for reliability

• A r____ is an e___ c___ of something, so a reliable method is where it can be r____ by another researcher and gives the s____ r____

• q____ methods such as w _____ q_____ tend to produce more r____ results than what methods

theoretical issues - reliability

• Another word for reliability is replicability.

• A replica is an exact copy of something, so a reliable method is where it can be repeated by another researcher and gives the same results.

• quantitative methods such as written questionnaires tend to produce more reliable results than qualitative methods such as unstructured interviews.

theoretical issues - representativeness

• Representativeness refers to what

• if we ensure our s____ is representative or t____ of the wider population, we can use our findings to make g_____ about the whole p____ ,without actually having to study them all.

• l____-s___ q____ surveys that use s____ s_____ techniques to select their sample are more likely to produce r_____ data.

theoretical issues - representativeness

• Representativeness refers to whether or not the people studied are a typical cross-section of the group we are interested in.

• if we ensure our sample is representative or typical of the wider population, we can use our findings to make generalisations about the whole population ,without actually having to study them all.

• Large-scale quantitative surveys that use sophisticated sampling techniques to select their sample are more likely to produce representative data.

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

• Sociologists' choice of method is also influenced by their methodological perspective - what is this ?

• There are two contrasting perspectives on the choice of methods: what are they

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

• Sociologists' choice of method is also influenced by their methodological perspective - their view of what society is like and how we should study it.

• There are two contrasting perspectives on the choice of methods: positivism and interpretivism.

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

Positivists prefer what type of data, seek to discover p_____ of b____ and see sociology as what

• Positivists assume that society has an o____ f____ reality - it exists 'out there', just like the p____ world of n____.

• Society exerts an i___ over its members, systematically doing what

• By analysing what type of data, positivists seek to discover the o____ s____ laws of c____ and e____ that determine behaviour.

• Positivists thus prefer what type of methods -These produce data that is both r____ and r____

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

Positivists prefer quantitative data, seek to discover patterns of behaviour and see sociology as a science.

• Positivists assume that society has an objective factual reality - it exists 'out there', just like the physical world of nature.

• Society exerts an influence over its members, systematically shaping their behaviour patterns.

• By analysing quantitative data, positivists seek to discover the objective scientific laws of cause and effect that determine behaviour.

• Positivists thus prefer questionnaires, structured interviews, experiments and official statistics. These produce data that is both reliable and representative

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

Interpretivists prefer what type of data data, seek to understand what and reject what view

• Interpretivists reject the idea of an o____ s____ reality - we construct reality how

• Our actions are based on the m_____ we give to situations; they are not the product of what

• By interpreting q_____ data, interpretivists seek to gain a s____ understanding of a____ m___ and life worlds.

• Interpretivists thus prefer what 3 types of methods. These produce data that is v___

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

Interpretivists prefer qualitative data, seek to understand social actors' meanings and reject the view that sociology can model itself on the natural sciences.

• Interpretivists reject the idea of an objective social reality - we construct reality through the meanings we create in our interactions with others.

• Our actions are based on the meanings we give to situations; they are not the product of external forces.

• By interpreting qualitative data, interpretivists seek to gain a subjective understanding of actors' meanings and life worlds.

• Interpretivists thus prefer participant observation, unstructured interviews and personal documents. These produce data that is valid.

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

• Functionalists and Marxists often take a positivist approach- They see society as a large-scale (macro-level) structure that shapes our behaviour.

• interactionists favour an interpretivist approach. - They take a micro-level view of society, focusing on small-scale, face-to-face interactions.

theoretical issues - methodological perspectives

• Which methodological perspective would favour a positivist approach and why

• Which methodological perspective would favour a interpretivist approach and why

conclusion

• what is usually the most important factor when choosing which method to use.

• However, p_____ and e____ factors usually limit the choice. Just because a sociologist prefers a particular kind of method, doesn't mean that they can simply go ahead and use it. t____, r____, a___, c____, p___ and so on are all constraints on their choice.

• Finally, even sheer c____ may determine the method used. For example, D____ T____ (2001) describes how one postgraduate sociology student found himself taken ill with t____ and confined to a what, so he used this as an opportunity to do what

conclusion

• The sociologist's theoretical perspective is usually the most important factor when choosing which method to use.

• However, practical and ethical factors usually limit the choice. Just because a sociologist prefers a particular kind of method, doesn't mean that they can simply go ahead and use it. Time, resources, access, consent, privacy and so on are all constraints on their choice.

• Finally, even sheer chance may determine the method used. For example, David Tuckett (2001) describes how one postgraduate sociology student found himself taken ill with tuberculosis and confined to a hospital ward, so he used this as an opportunity to conduct a participant observation study.

what are the 4 factors influencing the choice of topic

4 factors influencing the choice of topic :

• the sociologist’s perspective

• society’s values

• practical factors

• funding bodies

factors influencing the choice of topic - the sociologist’s perspective

• For example, a New Right researcher may study the effects of what on the growth of what, since the idea of w____ d_____ is central to their s____.

• By contrast, a feminist researcher is more likely to choose to study what, as opposition to what lies at the heart of the feminist perspective.

factors influencing the choice of topic - the sociologist’s perspective

• For example, a New Right researcher may study the effects of welfare benefits on the growth of lone-parent families, since the idea of welfare dependency is central to their standpoint.

• By contrast, a feminist researcher is more likely to choose to study domestic violence, as opposition to gender oppression lies at the heart of the feminist perspective.

factors influencing the choice of topic - society's values

• Sociologists themselves are part of the society they study and thus are influenced by its values.

• As these values change, so does the focus of research.

• e.g The rise of feminism in the 1960s led to a focus on gender inequality and today's environmentalist concerns have generated interest in 'green crimes' such as toxic waste dumping.

factors influencing the choice of topic - society's values

• Sociologists themselves are what and thus are i____ by its values.

• As these v____ change, so does the focus of research.

• e.g The rise of feminism in the 1960s led to a focus on what and today's e____ c_____ have generated interest in what

factors influencing the choice of topic - practical factors

• Practical factors, such as the i_____ of certain situations to the researcher, may also restrict what topic they are able to study.

• For example, although sociologists may wish to study the ways in which global corporations make their decisions- why might this may not be possible .

factors influencing the choice of topic - practical factors

• Practical factors, such as the inaccessibility of certain situations to the researcher, may also restrict what topic they are able to study.

• For example, although sociologists may wish to study the ways in which global corporations make their decisions, this may not be possible because these are made in secret.

factors influencing the choice of topic - funding bodies

• Most research requires what

• These bodies include government agencies, the E_____ and S___ R______ Council (ESRC), charities and businesses.

• As the funding body is paying for the research, it will d_____ the topic to be investigated

factors influencing the choice of topic - funding bodies

• Most research requires funding from an external body.

• These bodies include government agencies, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), charities and businesses.

• As the funding body is paying for the research, it will determine the topic to be investigated