1.2.4

Research Considerations

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Research Considerations

Sociologists have to consider a range of issues when planning to carry out research. Some of these are practical, ethical and theoretical, while other are concerned with the how useful any data collected is going to be.

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Influences on the choice of research topic and method

  • There are three main areas of concern when planning to conduct any sociological research study:
    • Practical issues.
    • Ethical issues.
    • Theoretical issues.
  • Remember the three using "PET"!
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Key issues in social research

  • As well as practical, ethical and theoretical concerns, researchers also need to be aware of issues of reliability, generalisability and validity.
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Reliability

  • Reliability refers to whether the method can be replicated, or repeated, by others to check the results.
  • The same or similar results should be obtained if the study is carried out by a different researcher – the same or similar results would suggest that the method is reliable.
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Generalisability

  • Generalisability refers to whether the method enables the findings to be generalised to similar groups.
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Validity

  • Validity refers to whether the chosen method provides a true, genuine or authentic depiction of what is being studied.
  • Qualitative data generally has high validity but is less reliable.

Practical, Ethical and Theoretical Considerations

There are three main areas of concern when planning to conduct any sociological research study: Practical issues, ethical issues and theoretical issue (PET).

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Practical issues

  • Practical issues include:
    • Time and funding available.
    • How easily the researcher can access the place of the group to be studied.
    • Whether the researcher has the personal skills and characteristics needed.
    • The availability of existing data.
    • The career interests and need for researchers to meet deadlines and publish findings.
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Ethical issues

  • The researcher has a duty to protect participants and ensure that their needs are met.
  • More specifically, the researcher must ensure that they:
    • Avoid any harmful consequences of either those being researched or the researcher.
    • Avoid deception (not being honest about the intentions of the study).
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Ethical issues cont.

  • Ensure that they gain freely given informed consent of those taking part.
  • Respect the privacy, interests and anonymity of those taking part (confidentiality issues).
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Theoretical issues

  • Whether a functionalist, Marxist or feminist approach is adopted, and how this impacts the choice of topic.
  • Whether a positivist or interpretivist approach is adopted and how this influences choice of research method.

The Relationship Between Theory and Methods

When conducting research sociologists need to consider practical limitations, ethical issues and theoretical restrictions. Arguably, the theoretical element is the most significant.

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Theoretical considerations

  • Theoretical considerations in sociological research are paramount.
  • As a sociologist your theoretical perspective is central to the way you view the world and will therefore determine the way you choose to research society.
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Positivists

  • Positivists argue that sociology is a scientific discipline and therefore they use the most scientific research methods to conduct their studies, such as laboratory experiments and official statistics.
  • These methods are high in reliability and objectivity.
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Marxists and functionalists

  • Marxists and functionalists use positivist methodologies as they believe that through science we can move forward as a society.
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Interpretivists

  • Interpretivists choose to study individuals in society.
  • They argue that sociology should not be associated with science and they therefore choose to use non scientific methodologies.
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Interpretivists methods

  • Interpretivists methods include unstructured interviews and participant observations.
  • Feminists use such methods as they argue that science is male dominated and oppresses women, instead they argue we should look to understand individual women and their personal struggles in a patriarchal society.
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Action theories

  • Action theories also apply interpretivist methodologies to their understanding of the social world around them.
  • Central to such methodology are methods that produce data high in validity and verstehen.

Jump to other topics

1Theory & Methods

2Education with Methods in Context

3Option 1: Culture & Identity

4Option 1: Families & Households

5Option 1: Health

6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

7Option 2: Beliefs in Society

8Option 2: Global Development

9Option 2: The Media

10Crime & Deviance

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