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Summary sociological methods
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Aqa a level sociology theory and methods summary notes for sociological methods.
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Interpretivist research Funding bodies Operationalising conceptsFrom an interpretivist perspective, the researcher To undertake research sociologists often need
This is where the concepts within the
attempts to gain an in-depth understanding of how funding to cover the costs of their study. sociologists aim/hypothesis are broken down
people see and understand the world around them There are funding bodies who can provide to identify how they will be measured
by putting themselves in the position of those being economic support such as the Economic and (operationalised). E.g. identify how to measure
studied; to understand things from their point of
Social Research Council (ESRC). As the the concept of social class.
view.
funding body is paying for the research they
Research methods may state what they want to be studied. Pilot study
The Research Process
Interpretivists use qualitative methods in order A pilot study is a draft version of the research
to study social phenomena, including: When a sociologist conducts their research which is carried out on a small sample.
there are several stages that take place
o Uncontrolled field experiments. before the research is published. These are Data collection
o Open-ended questionnaires. covered below.
o Unstructured interviews. The research is carried out in full.
o Overt and covert participant and non- Formulation of a hypothesis
participant observation. Publish findings
o Personal accounts, using personal A hypothesis is a general explanation that
documents such as diaries and letters. can be tested by collecting evidence that can The sociologist interprets the data and
be proved or disproved. This is presented as analyses their data to identify their
Factors that Affect the Choice of Topic a statement e.g.: conclusions. A report will be written that
The sociologist’s perspective, society's values, details the sociologist's research process and
o Middle class students their findings which will then be published.
practical factors and funding can all affect the
outperform working class
choice of topic in a sociological study. students. Research Considerations
The sociologist’s perspective
The sociologist will then either confirm or Sociologists have to consider a range of issues
disprove this. Positivists favour this approach when planning to carry out research. Some of
The theoretical viewpoint the sociologist has
will affect what they want to study. E.g. Marxists as it is scientific. these are practical, ethical and theoretical,
would be interested in class inequalities in while other are concerned with the how useful
society. Formulation of an aim any data collected is going to be.
An aim is more appropriate than a hypothesis Influences on the choice of research
Society’s values
in some research studies. An aim is broader topic and method
When values in society change so does the focus of and outlines what the researcher intends to
the research sociologists undertake. For example the study. Intepretivists favour this approach as it There are three main areas of concern when
increase of feminism in 1960’s led to further allows the research to be guided by the planning to conduct any sociological research
research on gender equality. participants. study:
Practical factors Choice of method o Practical issues.
o Ethical issues.
Accessibility can be a barrier to studying a topic. For Next a sociologist must choose their method. o Theoretical issues.
example studying global corporations may prove
, Key issues in social research Ethical issues These methods are high in reliability and
objectivity.
As well as practical, ethical and theoretical
The researcher has a duty to protect
concerns, researchers also need to be aware of
participants and ensure that their needs are Marxists and functionalists
issues of reliability, generalisability and validity. met. More specifically, the researcher must
Reliability ensure that they: Marxists and functionalists use positivist
methodologies as they believe that through
o Avoid any harmful consequences of science we can move forward as a society.
Reliability refers to whether the method can be
replicated, or repeated, by others to check the either those being researched or
results. The same or similar results should be the researcher.
Interpretivists
obtained if the study is carried out by a different o Avoid deception (not being honest
researcher – the same or similar results would about the intentions of the study).
Interpretivists choose to study individuals in
suggest that the method is reliable.
Ensure that they gain freely given informed society. They argue that sociology should not
consent of those taking part. Respect the privacy, be associated with science and they therefore
Generalisability
interests and anonymity of those taking part choose to use non scientific methodologies.
(confidentiality issues).
Generalisability refers to whether the method Interpretivists methods
enables the findings to be generalised to Theoretical issues
similar groups.
Interpretivists methods include unstructured
Whether a functionalist, Marxist or feminist interviews and participant observations.
Validity approach is adopted, and how this impacts Feminists use such methods as they argue that
the choice of topic. Whether a positivist or science is male dominated and oppresses
Validity refers to whether the chosen method interpretivist approach is adopted and how women, instead they argue we should look to
provides a true, genuine or authentic depiction this influences choice of research method. understand individual women and their
of what is being studied. Qualitative data personal struggles in a patriarchal society.
generally has high validity but is less reliable. The Relationship Between Theory and
Methods Action theories
Practical, Ethical and Theoretical
Considerations When conducting research sociologists need
Action theories also apply interpretivist
to consider practical limitations, ethical
There are three main areas of concern when methodologies to their understanding of the
issues and theoretical restrictions. Arguably,
planning to conduct any sociological research study: social world around them. Central to such
the theoretical element is the most methodology are methods that produce data
Practical issues, ethical issues and theoretical issue
significant. high in validity and verstehen.
(PET).
Theoretical considerations
Practical issues Subjectivity, Objectivity and Value
Theoretical considerations in sociological Freedom
Practical issues include: research are paramount. As a sociologist your
Subjectivity is when you make a judgment
theoretical perspective is central to the way you
o Time and funding available. view the world and will therefore determine the based on your own personal bias. Objectivity is
o How easily the researcher can access way you choose to research society. associated with scientific disciplines. Value free
the place of the group to be studied. sociology is championed by positivists.
o Whether the researcher has the Positivists
personal skills and characteristics Subjectivity
needed.
o The availability of existing data. Positivists argue that sociology is a scientific
Subjectivity is when you make a judgment
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