Research
In
this introductory section you will need to understand why sociologists
undertake research, the four steps to conducting research and what
research methods can be used. In the AQA syllabus, you will need to
undertake research as a coursework project. This will make up 20% of your total mark.
The aim of research is to enable sociologists to better understand society. When conducting research, there are five steps to take;
- The first step is to decide what type
of research method(s) is the most appropriate. Obviously, your choice
of method(s) depends upon what it is you are trying to find out. For
example in 1976 and 1994 a sociologist called Sue Sharpe used
interviews to discover how schoolgirls saw their futures in terms of
marriage and having children. This was clearly the most appropriate
means of research. In your case, the most appropriate method may not be
interviews. It could be observation, questionnaires, collecting data
from secondary sources, etc. Please bear in mind that there are pros
and cons for each method of research. Other factors you need to
consider are;
- Time (i.e. the coursework deadline). It is always advisable to conduct an action plan
- The availability of the group you wish to study
- How ‘scientific’ you wish to be. There are two approaches to this particular issue;
Positivists |
Interactionists (or interpretivists) |
The
aim is to be as scientific as possible. As such, positivists use
questionnaires and statistics (in other words, quantitative data) |
Sociology
cannot be understood on a scientific basis. As such, qualitative
methods are more appropriate, such as interviews and observation. There
are also variations upon these methods (e.g. an interview can be either
structured or unstructured, and observation can take place on the basis
of participant or non-participant) |
- The second stage is to conduct a pilot study on a representative sample. This is really a ‘practise run’
- The
next step is to amend the research in accordance with the findings of
the pilot study. For example, a questionnaire can often be improved on
the basis of feedback from the pilot study
- You are now ready to present your findings. When presenting data, there are four main types to consider using;
- Primary data. This is data gained on a first-hand basis, such as an interview you have conducted
- Secondary
data. This consists of data derived from other researchers. One of the
most common sources of secondary data is official statistics from the
government
- Qualitative data. This is what people think or feel, which could be gained from observation
- Quantitative data. This consists of numerical facts and figures. Positivists tend to favour using quantitative data
On
a final note, don’t be surprised if your research raises more questions
than it answers. Sociologists have often found that a piece of research
leads onto issues that require further research. However, you should be
able to offer some findings based upon your research.
What is good research?
Throughout your research, please be aware that ‘good’ research should be;
- Valid
- Objective. Always try to avoid bias when conducting research
- The sample used should be representative, and
- Reliable
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