Other Considerations

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Practical Problems

Practical problems are usually the issues that are related to time, cost and access.

Assessing sociological research

Clear aim of what the sociologists want to achieve is needed.
Judge whether the aim has been met.

Choosing research tools

Methods need to be decided depending on the aim of the study.
If one is researching pupil/teacher interactions an observation might be a much better research tool in comparison to an interview.

Grounded theory

Grounded theory emerges once the data is collected.
First the researcher observes and then suggests possible ideas that might explain their behaviour.

Avoiding bias

Sometimes it is hard for the researcher to remain objective and make a distinction between opinion and facts.
This is why researchers always need to take into account their collected data.

Using secondary sources

Researchers need to conduct a literature review before they write up their study.
This means that they need to be aware of research that already exists and how prior ideas can help them with the purpose of their study.

Costs

Before conducting their study, the researchers need to calculate its budget.
Apart from the apparent expenses, this might be affected by extra time needed or other practical issues such as denied access to the participants because of a gatekeeper.

Ethical Considerations

The British Sociological Association ethical code was written to protect participants in sociological research. Research must never breach this code.

Aims of the BSA

Provide researchers with a code of conduct in order to avoid harming the participants sociological studies in any way.
Ensure their safety.
Avoid presenting a finding as a fact when there isn’t enough evidence.
Cultivate an environment of mutual respect and trust.

Aims cont.

Obtain informed consent.
In cases where informed consent isn’t gained beforehand, (such as in a covert observation) then the participants need to be debriefed and the researcher needs to ensure that they haven’t suffered any harm.
Offer confidentiality and anonymity.

Ethical Considerations

The Nuremburg Code was established for ethical medical research in 1946 after WW2 when it was revealed that horrific experiments have taken place in concentration camps.

The Nuremburg Code

The Nuremburg Code was established for ethical medical research in 1946 after WW2 when it was revealed that horrific experiments have taken place in concentration camps.

Anonymity

Anonymity can be applied to participants, researchers or even places where a study has taken place.
The reason this is important is to avoid exposing people or institutions, ensuring safety to participants and researchers.
For example Heidensohn in 'Women and Crime' used ‘Rosa’ as her informant and Ball used the name ‘Beachside Comprehensive’.

Confidentiality

However, it is also important not to distort reality, i.e. the data.
The data collected needs to be kept safe and confidential (avoid revealing them to people who aren’t involved in the research).
However, sociologists don’t have the same legal protection as doctors when it comes to confidentiality.
They have to reveal information if there are people at stake.

Harm

Researchers need to make sure that no one who is involved in the research suffers any psychological or physical harm.

The Data Protection Act

The Data Protection Act is a law that ensures data and personal information are stored safely by anyone who collects it.
Locked cabinets.
Password-protected computers and servers.
Firewalls.
Virus-detection programmes.
Change passwords regularly.