Research Methods

Time - some researchers underestimate the time needed to carry out research.

Financial - may not have the money/funding to carry out the research. If you have no money, there is no possibility of carrying out the research.

Access to and nature of subject matter - Some area's may be seen as deviant or could be sensitive to some people.

Social characteristics of researcher - may be seen in a certain way from the research group; or could be biased towards the subject.

Social policy - governments employ researchers to assess these.

Social characteristics - needs to be suited  to gain succesful results.

Nature of subject - may be sensitive e.g. domestic violence.

Informed consent - people involved must know they are being researched.

Deception - not giving the people involved all the information about the research being carried out.

Confidentiality - the research must not be able to be traced back to any individuals.

Protection From Harm - people involved may suffer from social consequences after the research has been carried out.

Privacy - some research may be intrusive.

Legality and immorality - the researcher should prevent themselves becoming involved in deviant situations.

Representativeness - the researcher will be generalising for the population.

Reliability - the research could be repeated and the same results could be obtained.

Validity - it must be show a true picture of what is being studied.

Interpretativists - people are active beings who act with intention and purpose; prefer valid and quantitative data

Positivists - "puppets on a string"; prefer qualitative and reliable data