Research Methods - initial points
- Created by: phoebe.gregory
- Created on: 22-04-18 11:43
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- Research methods - initial topic points
- Positivism and research methods
- sociology can be studied the same way as the sciences
- resulting in the production of quantitative data using quantitative methods
- social facts
- a phenomena which exists independently from individuals and outside of their minds
- forces which shape/mould behaviour
- the law
- the family
- the education system
- Durkheim
- the study of sociology should be the study of social facts
- without quantification, sociology will remain on the level of insights and impressions lacking evidence
- ill be impossible to repeat studies and find generalisations
- works on a large scale macro approach
- focuses on large numbers of people and the large scale structure of society as a whole rather than individuals
- positivist methods
- the experiment
- non participant observation
- social surveys
- structured questionnaires
- formal/ structured interviews
- the comparative method
- sociology can be studied the same way as the sciences
- interpretivism and research methods
- verstehen
- understanding human behaviour by putting yourself in the position of those being studies
- there is a need to get personally involved with people to understand how they see the world
- atkinson (1978)
- uses interpretivist methods to critique durkeims suicide study
- states suicide statistics are social constructions reflecting the behaviours of doctors, relatives etc.
- tell us more about the decision making processes of the living than intentions of the dead
- states suicide statistics are social constructions reflecting the behaviours of doctors, relatives etc.
- uses interpretivist methods to critique durkeims suicide study
- interpretivist methods
- participant observation
- informal interviews
- open ended questionairres
- use of personal accounts
- micro approach
- focues on small groups or individuals rather than large numbers of people and society as a whole
- verstehen
- Practical factors and the consideration of ethics
- ethics
- principles or ideas of what is morally right or wrong
- how easy it is to access those being studies
- access to hospitals and schools
- time and funding available
- government backed research is likely to open more doors
- availability of existing data on a topic
- values and beliefs of the researcher
- personal safety of researchers
- informed consent
- where those taking part have agreed to do so
- ethics
- theoretical issues
- the sociological perspective held by the researcher will influence how they investigate a topic
- will influence what they see as important
- the sociological perspective held by the researcher will influence how they investigate a topic
- Key issues in sociological research
- reliability
- whether another researcher would achieve th e same results if they were to conduct the research themselves
- validity
- how far the findings of the research provide a true, genuine or authentic picture of what is being studied
- ethics
- the morality of the research and its effects on those involved
- reliability
- Positivism and research methods
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