...Checkpoint: Sociological Research Methods Rhonda Keenum SOC/120 Michelle March November 11, 2011 The article I chose was “Ethical suicide research: A survey of researchers”, and it is about the research that is needed to better comprehend and react efficiently to people who are suicidal. Connecting people who are suicidal in research poses some ethical and practical issues. “The ethical problems and difficulties in obtaining approval to involve people who are suicidal in research have contributed to the current paucity of research that explores the suicidal experience,” (Lakeman & Fitzgerald, 2009). To look at some of these issues, a web-based review of suicide researchers was undertaken. I believe the type of research method used in this article is interpretive sociology. “Interpretive sociology, the study of society that focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world,” (Macionis, 2006). They did this web-based survey to see or get the qualitative data on perceptions of how people comprehend their environments in suicide. They not only wanted to observe people who are suicidal, but also share in their world of significance, coming to understand why they behave as they do. One of the four research methods they used was survey. They chose the web-based survey because it was inexpensive and well-organized methods to get the opinions and responses of researchers and ethics committee members. I also believe that...
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...education classes. They are from the Mexican American population. The article was written by Medina and Luna, to write this article they did research on why children are committing suicide and what signs to look out for. During this research it will also play a role among educators and administrations of the schools population see warning signs and seek help for the students. According to the authors Medina and Luna they felt that this was a risky group and went unnoticed until this study. Using small groups of children that fitted the demographics is how they were about to conduct there interviews. Taking use of Seidman’s interview procedures they were able to find out some of the factors that plays a role in why children commit suicide, attempt suicide or even think about it. Using the information that they collected from the interviews they then combine that information among other information and studies that were done to pin point the prime reasons. They looked at studies that did not focus on Mexican Americans but focused on every culture. The findings were that they are a high rate of Mexican Americans that commit, attempt to commit or have thought about suicide than any other in there age range. It was also found that suicide is committed by special education children due to depression which is a normal cause of suicide. This research is an example of a critical methodological orientation. By using this process the authors are trying to find ways to help change the...
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...Compare and contrast the major characteristics of two methods of sociological inquiry. Your answer should clarify how: Each method relates to a distinct tradition of social research (e.g., positivism, interpretivism or the critical tradition); Addresses the issue of objectivity and; Account for the relationship between the natural and the social sciences. Research methods are a crucial part to understanding society. Without research methods, scientists and researchers would not be able to understand the why, the how or the what. There are three main traditions in social research; Positivism, Interpretivism and Critical Tradition. In this essay, the writer will examine two of these traditions; positivism and interpretivism. The writer will talk about each of these traditions, the history and the type of research method each are. The writer will discuss examples of each tradition, a qualitative research method and a quantitative research method. The writer will then go on to discuss the contributions of two major sociologists in each; Emile Durkheim for Positivism and Max Weber for Interpretivism. The writer will then go on to compare and contrast each tradition. Positivism was first established by French philosopher Auguste Comte in the early 19th century. Positivism can be defined as ‘’ the tendency to develop the means of our reason either to predict the phenomena of nature or to modify them through our intervention, which is the characteristic feature...
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...Research Methodology Aila Sajid Bhangoo Introduction A novice researcher often has a confusing start looking for answers to questions such as: what should be the focus of the research, what approach must be taken towards research that is how to go about data collection and how to draw the most accurate analysis from the information gathered. Consequently, it is of paramount significance what subject matter the researcher chooses, what research questions he conceives and how the researches goes about in conducting his research. There are primarily two aspirations for orchestrating a research; the first is to find a solution for an on ground problem present in the day to day political life which is called applied, practical or policy research and the second is with the aim of fostering and boosting the available knowledge about the politics and political world which is referred to as basic, pure or theoretical approach. Hakim defines policy research being concerned with ‘knowledge of action’; hence, it focuses on “actionable variables” or variables. The target audiences of such researches are policy makers in government, institutional decision makers, special interest groups and other relevant stakeholders. The undercurrent aim of policy research is to make accurate prediction based on techniques such as simulations, mathematical modeling, forecasting, time series...
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...Sociology SCLY2: Education with Sociological Research Methods Student Guide Introduction According to sociologist Michael Rutter we spend 15000 hours in the education system. Consequently the schooling process has a large role in forming our personalities. For some, education also manages to act as a way of socialising people into the norms and values that are seen to be important for a particular society. For others it can be seen as a source of conflict particularly when issues surrounding gender, class and ethnicity are put under the sociologists, ‘microscope’. It also provides an excellent indicator of how political ideology affects social policy, with the changing of governments impacting on educational policy. Some questions sociologists are interested in about education are: * Why do some pupils achieve more than others? * What is the relationship between education and the economy? * What is the purpose of education? * Do pupil’s school experiences vary? Assessment The course will be assessed by examination only. The examination will consist of various short answer question and essay style questions. Date of Exam: June 2010 Duration: 2 hr The Unit 2 exam is worth 60% of your final AS level grade. There will be 90 marks available on the paper. You will answer one question on the chosen topic, one question on sociological research methods in context and one question on research methods. Assessment Objectives AO1 Knowledge...
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...Social Science Research Within the disciplines of sociological and cultural anthropology, research methods have similarities and differences based on philosophical roots that determine how a researcher will interact with study subjects to produce data or aesthetic judgments for an holistic understanding of individual or societal behavior. To what degree researchers will interact with participants is determined in two approaches that either promotes positivism or constructivist viewpoints. Positivism, according to Williamson (2006), considered as the investigation of human and social phenomena by observable and measureable methods, produces quantitative and reproducible data. In the viewpoint of positivism, data is obtained from the contextual origin and knowledge is determined as an external reality, one that is not integrated with the contextual milieu or qualitative variances (Williamson, 2006). According to Nomalungelo (2012), the positivist viewpoint is aligned with traditional western-based science, limiting in its integration of research with other qualitative approaches, paradigms and world views. Conversely, constructivism, as described by Nomalungelo (2012), is knowledge produced from intersection of human interaction and social processes, resulting in dynamic development of qualitative knowledge as the viewer creates varying interpretations from a continuously shifting, contextual social reality. Therefore, the discovery of new meanings and realities are reached...
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...Summary Sociological inquiry is a scientific activity to acquire valid and precise knowledge of our observable social world and to increase our understanding of our social groups and ourselves. Its main focus is to test or verify a hypothesis. It involves having a scientific and theoretical perspective about aspect of the social world the sociologist is studying. The sociologist follow basic procedures such as defining the research problem and reviewing related literature, formulating the hypothesis, planning the research design, gathering the data, analyzing the data, formulating the conclusion, checking and verifying the results and communicating the findings Social research entails either qualitative or quantitative methods. Qualitative methods of research include participant observation, field study, historical method, life history, and case study. Quantitative method, on the other hand, make use of statistics and mathematics in studying social behavior. Social surveys and experiments fall under this search. There is also the feminist research approach, which uses constructed and the product of social and cultural relations. Research also has ethical concerns; the researcher must assume responsibility for their research procedures and findings. Certain types of behavior patterns are required for sociological inquiry. Among these are a good grasp of the basic premises of their liberalism. A question that has nagged sociologists is whether or not to be directly involved...
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...Version 1.0 General Certificate of Education June 2011 Sociology 1191 SCLY2 Education with Research Methods; Health with Research Methods Unit 2 Mark Scheme Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation meeting attended by all examiners and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation meeting ensures that the mark scheme covers the candidates’ responses to questions and that every examiner understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for the standardisation meeting each examiner analyses a number of candidates’ scripts: alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed at the meeting and legislated for. If, after this meeting, examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been discussed at the meeting they are required to refer these to the Principal Examiner. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of candidates’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further copies of this Mark Scheme are available...
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...Version 1.0 General Certificate of Education January 2012 Sociology SCLY4 2191 Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods; Stratification and Differentiation with Theory and Methods; Unit 4 Mark Scheme Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation meeting attended by all examiners and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation meeting ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every examiner understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for the standardisation meeting each examiner analyses a number of students’ scripts: alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed at the meeting and legislated for. If, after this meeting, examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been discussed at the meeting they are required to refer these to the Principal Examiner. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further...
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...Version 3.0 General Certificate of Education January 2013 Sociology 1191 SCLY2 Education with Research Methods; Health with Research Methods Unit 2 Final Mark Scheme Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation meeting attended by all examiners and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation meeting ensures that the mark scheme covers the students‟ responses to questions and that every examiner understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for the standardisation meeting each examiner analyses a number of students‟ scripts: alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed at the meeting and legislated for. If, after this meeting, examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been discussed at the meeting they are required to refer these to the Principal Examiner. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of students‟ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year‟s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further copies of this Mark Scheme are available to download...
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...Chapter 2 Sociological Investigation I. The Basics of Sociological Investigation. A. Sociological investigation begins with two key requirements: 1. Apply the sociological perspective. 2. Be curious and ask questions. B. Sociology is a type of science, a logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation. Science is one form of truth. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, or information we can verify with our senses. C. Scientific evidence sometimes contradicts common sense explanations of social behavior. 1. SOCIOLOGY IN FOCUS BOX (p. 28)—Is What We Read in the Popular Press True? The Case of Extramarital Sex. Every day, we see stories in newspapers and magazines that tell us what people think and how they behave. But a lot of what we read turns out to be misleading or even untrue. Take the issue of extramarital sex, which refers to a married person having sex with someone other than his or her spouse. A look at the cover of many of the so-called women’s magazines you find in the checkout aisle at the supermarket or a quick reading of the advice column in your local newspaper might lead you to think that extramarital sex is a major issue facing married couples. II. Three Ways to Do Sociology. There are three ways to do research in sociology: positivist sociology, interpretive sociology, and critical sociology. A. Positivist Sociology. 1. Scientific sociology is the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior. The scientific...
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...Department of Sociology Course Outlines for BA Sociology (Elective) Marks Paper A: General sociology Paper-B: Sociological Theory, Research and Social Problems Grand Total: 100 100 200 PAPER-A GENERAL SOCIOLOGY Note: All topics should be covered in the context of Pakistani Society. 1. a) b) c) d) 2. Introduction Definition of Sociology. Subject Matter. Relationship of Sociology with Other Social Sciences. Utility and Application of Sociology. Social Groups a) Types of Groups (Primary and Secondary Groups, in groups, Out-groups, formal Groups, Informal Groups. b) Distinction between social groups and social categories. c) Other related concepts (Reference Groups, Locality Groups, Society) Social Interaction a) Definition. b) Importance of social interaction. c) Process of Social Interaction (cooperation, competition, conflict, Assimilation, Accommodation and Acculturation). Social Norms a) Definition b) Types of social Norms (Folkways, Mores, (Amar-o-Nahi), Laws c) Other related concepts (Deviancy, Social Control, Social Sanctions, Taboos, Values and Beliefs) Status and Role a) Definition b) Types of Status and Role (Achieved and Ascribed) c) Related concepts (Role Conflict, Role Playing) Culture Definition Elements of culture(traits, patterns, complexes, ethos) Types of culture (Non-material and material, ideal and real Cultural Uniformity and Cultural Variability Other related concepts (sub-culture, cultural relativism, Ethnocentrism) 3. 4. 5. 6. a)...
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...GCE Sociology Advanced GCE Unit G674: Exploring Social Inequality and Difference Mark Scheme for June 2012 Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications include AS/A Levels, Diplomas, GCSEs, OCR Nationals, Functional Skills, Key Skills, Entry Level qualifications, NVQs and vocational qualifications in areas such as IT, business, languages, teaching/training, administration and secretarial skills. It is also responsible for developing new specifications to meet national requirements and the needs of students and teachers. OCR is a not-for-profit organisation; any surplus made is invested back into the establishment to help towards the development of qualifications and support, which keep pace with the changing needs of today’s society. This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements of the examination. It shows the basis on which marks were awarded by examiners. It does not indicate the details of the discussions which took place at an examiners’ meeting before marking commenced. All examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills demonstrated. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the published question papers and the...
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...paper is divided into two sections. Choose one section and answer all the questions in that section. Do not answer questions from more than one section. Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. Information The marks for questions are shown in brackets. The maximum mark for this paper is 90. Questions carrying 12 marks or more should be answered in continuous prose. In these questions you will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. A G/K92851/Jun13/SCLY2 6/6 SCLY2 2 Choose either Section A or Section B and answer all the questions in that section. Section A: Education with Research Methods You are advised to spend approximately 50 minutes on questions 0 1 0 6 to 0 4 . 9 . You are advised to spend approximately 30 minutes on question You are advised to spend approximately 40 minutes on questions 0 5 . to 0 Total for this section: 90 marks Education Read Item A below and answer questions 0 1 to 0 4 that follow. Item A The educational achievements of both boys and girls have improved since the 1980s, but girls’ results have improved more rapidly. They have overtaken boys in Key Stage tests, at GCSE and at A level. Girls are also more likely than boys to go to university. However, gender differences in subject choice remain relatively unchanged in both academic and...
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...autobiographies are “The Philadelphia Negro” (1899), “The Souls of Black Folk” (1903), “Black Reconstruction” (19350) and “Then and Now” (1939). He still went on to wrote so many influential books which had impact in the black communities and population before his death. • Sociology as scientific method Sociological research is the scientific means of acquiring information about various aspects of society and social behavior. So in general sociology bases some of its fact through science. Sociology as a scientific method can be described as an accurate and unbiased collection and analysis of social data, using systematic observation, conducting experiments and also exhibit skepticism. • Micro and Macro and Sociological perspective There are two types of sociological theories: macro and micro. Macro theories focus on the society as a whole and aim at establishing the general characteristics of the society. It is basically looking at the society as a whole and looking at a bigger picture. It aims to answer three basic questions: • What holds the societies together? • What are the sources of conflict in a society? • How do societies change? There are two branches of macro-sociological theories: consensus and conflict, with the main representative being functionalist and Marxist respectively. Micro theories on the other hand, focus on the individuals who make up the society unlike macro theory which looks at the society as a whole. Micro theories are small scale. Consider it...
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