Choice of research topic and methods

?

Area

Area of investigation

Whether or not the area is easy to investigate or not

E.g. Criminals would be difficult to investigate using survey techniques

1 of 13

Pressure

Pressures to publish books, articles, deadlines

2 of 13

Interest

Whether or not the research area is of current interest or lucrative for financial backers

3 of 13

Access

Ease of access to the chosen group

4 of 13

Existing knowledge

What is already known about the research area

Availability of secondary and primary research

5 of 13

Use

The usefullness of the research

E.g. to governments, private companies etc

6 of 13

Success

The desire for researchers to succeed in proving their hypothesis correct

Desire for promotion and career success

7 of 13

Values

Values of the researcher - importance/interest in the subject

8 of 13

Ethical

Whether or not the research is ethical

9 of 13

Skills

Personal skills and characteristics of the researcher

10 of 13

Time and money

Time and money available to do the research

Large scale, participant observation = costly and time consuming

11 of 13

Theoretical

Positivist vs interpretivist

E.g. quantiatitive or qualitative

12 of 13

Funding

Who is paying for the research, e.g. government research requires quantitative data

13 of 13

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