Research considerations

Question 1

What are the three main areas of concern regarding research?

Answer 1

• Practical issues
• Ethical issues
• Theoretical issues

(PET)

Question 2

What is reliability in research?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

What is generalisability in research?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is validity in research?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What are some practical issues of research?

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

What are some ethical issues of research?

Answer 6

• The researcher has a duty to protect participants and ensure that their needs are met
• Avoid any harmful consequences of either those being researched or the researcher
• Avoid deception
• Ensure that they gain freely given informed consent of those taking part
• Respect the privacy, interests and anonymity of those taking part, confidentiality

Question 7

What are some theoretical issues of research?

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

What research considerations do positivists have?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What research considerations do marxists and functionalists have?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What research considerations do interpretivists have?

Answer 10

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.

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.

Question 11

What research considerations do action theories have?

Answer 11

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.