...Sociological Research: Designs, Methods Sociologists use many different designs and methods to study society and social behavior. Most sociological research involves ethnography, or “field work” designed to depict the characteristics of a population as fully as possible. Three popular social research designs (models) are * Cross-sectional, in which scientists study a number of individuals of different ages who have the same trait or characteristic of interest at a single time * Longitudinal, in which scientists study the same individuals or society repeatedly over a specified period of time * Cross-sequential, in which scientists test individuals in a cross-sectional sample more than once over a specified period of time Six of the most popular sociological research methods (procedures) are the case study, survey, observational, correlational, experimental, and cross-culturalmethods, as well as working with information already available. Case study research In case study research, an investigator studies an individual or small group of individuals with an unusual condition or situation. Case studies are typically clinical in scope. The investigator (often a clinical sociologist) sometimes uses self-report measures to acquire quantifiable data on the subject. A comprehensive case study, including a long-term follow-up, can last months or years. On the positive side, case studies obtain useful information about individuals and small groups. On the negative side...
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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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...Participant Observation is a method of data collection that takes advantage of the human ability to empathise. Unlike other research methods participant observation allows the sociologist to look at people in their natural environment. Participant observation is often associated with qualitative research, although the use of observation is not confined to researchers advocating any particular methodological approach. Sociologists such as Ned Polsky and Nigel Fielding have used participant observation to research different topics. This essay will explore the usefulness of the use of participant observation in sociological research, and its drawbacks. One of the most important decisions that participant observers have to make is how to approach the social group they wish to join. They can either choose to be a covert or an overt participant observer. A covert participant observer will declare their true identity and purpose whereas an overt participant observer will keep this hidden. Whilst some researchers choose to only be partially open, others strongly advocate being open from the start and argue that it is both morally and practically the best way to carry out participant observation. Ned Polsky suggests that it is morally correct to be truthful and that the research can easily be ruined if the covert participant observer is uncovered. However, leading overt research can sometimes have its drawbacks as the group may behave artificially so as to present themselves in a better...
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...Sociological Research Skills Name of Method Research Methods Questionnaires Brief Outline of Method A questionnaire is a list of written questions that can be completed in one of two basic ways Firstly, respondents could be asked to complete the questionnaire with the researcher not present. This is a postal questionnaire and (loosely) refers to any questionnaire that a respondent completes without the aid of the researcher. Secondly, respondents could be asked to complete the questionnaire by verbally responding to questions in the presence of the researcher. This variation is called a structured interview. Although the two variations are similar (a postal questionnaire and a structured interview could contain exactly the same questions), the difference between them is important. If, for example, we are concerned with protecting the respondent’s anonymity then it might be more appropriate to use a postal questionnaire than a structured interview. Questionnaires are restricted to two basic types of question: Closed-ended (or “closed question”) is a question for which a researcher provides a suitable list of responses (e.g. Yes / No). This produces mainly quantitative data. Open-ended (or “open question”) is a question where the researcher doesn’t provide the respondent with a set answer from which to choose. Rather, the respondent is asked to answer "in their own words". This produces mainly qualitative data. Strengths / Uses of Method Weaknesses / Limitations of Method...
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...[pic] Exploring qualitative research online The aim of this document is to provide students with some extra insight into qualitative research methods by guiding them to specific, useable, and comprehensible websites. It aims to provide a series of ‘snippets’ of information that should broaden and deepen students’ knowledge of this subject area. This document is designed primarily to extend students’ learning and should be completed in conjunction with other course material such as textbooks. Students should click on the links and answer the questions, expanding the boxes as they go. |Participant observation, grounded theory and action research | | | |Click on the Wikipedia entry for participant observation: | |http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participant_observation | | | |What is participant observation? ...
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...Examine the advantages of using structured interviews in sociological research (20 marks) There are different forms of interview, the main division being between structured and unstructured. Structured interviews result in quantitative data that can be turned into statistics, which sociologists can use to examine trends and patterns in behaviour. Positivists believe there is an objective social reality that can be scientifically studied. They favour structured interviews, because to study something scientifically, their research methods must be reliable and representative. Structured interviews are a standardised means of research; this is because they use the same set of questions for everyone. Often they use pre-set responses that respondents much choose their answer from, making collation of data much easier for the researcher. Interpretivists on the other hand, do not approve of structured interviews, they believe them to be fundamentally flawed because the respondent is not always free to answer in the way they wish. The data from structured interviews is directly comparable, due to the fact they use fixed questions and answers. They are also easily replicable and therefore useful in checking results of other interviews. If the questions and answers were different in each interview, like they are in unstructured and group interviews, the researcher could not compare responses over time in a longitudinal study. Structured interviews also have a very high response rate...
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...Module Code: PM002 Class/Group: Group C Module Title: Research Design and Critique Assessment: Full Research Proposal Assignment Title: An investigation into the factors that influence the Glaswegian public’s choice of car. Student ID Number: 2059626 Date of Submission: November 29th, 2012 An investigation into the factors that influence the Glaswegian public’s choice of car. Rationale The number of automobiles had risen to over 1 billion vehicles all the world in 2010, which is 20 times more than this number in 1986(Sousanis, John,2011). Car plays a indispensable role in today's society, according to a survey from World Bank(2011), the number of ownership of motor vehicles per 1,000 people is more than 500 in most of developing countries, especially for Monaco, the number was 908(World Bank Data,2009). Although cars have become more and more commonplace, but the cars are still expensive commodity, also there is no doubt that the final decisions are usually made after careful consideration when people purchasing a car(Kathuria, Singla,2012). At the same time, as the vehicle types supplied to be chosen by consumers have become more and more various. When consumer facing with abundant of choices, they become more and more confused and irresolute. With the segmentation of automobile market, the factors that affect the public' car choices are more and more diversified. According to Couton et al.(2006), various...
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...Examine the view that theoretical issues are the most important factor influencing sociologist’s choice of research methods. Many sociologists argue that theoretical issues are the most important factors to affect choice of method. Theoretical issues refer to what we think society is like and if we can obtain an accurate and truthful picture of it. There are four different concerns regarding theoretical issues which influence sociologist’s choice of research methods. Validity is a method that gives a true or genuine picture of what something is really like, which helps the researcher easily find out the truth. Sociologists argue that the use of qualitative methods such as Participant Observation gives a more valid, truthful account as it provides us with a deeper insight through firsthand experience. The next issue that influences sociologist’s choice is reliability which comes from Latin, replica meaning an exact copy of something. This results in the method being able to be repeated and creates a less bias and more accurate research again and again. Quantitative methods such as written questionnaires can be used as they are more reliable results than qualitative methods such as unstructured interviews. Another theoretical issue is representativeness which refers to how much of the characteristics you are looking for is represented by the people being studied. For example if a sociologist is researching single parent homes, you will not interview nuclear families, because...
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...Forms of Data: Observations, Interviews and Questionnaires Natasha Dean EDU 675 May 24, 2016 Dr. Shannon O’Day Action research is a form of research that is normally used to solve the resultant and immediate grievance. In this case therefore this practice is mostly done on community based agendas and several people come together so as they can work together as team towards finding means of improving the way people solve their grievances as well as address their issues. The purpose of my study therefore is to involve myself in this mode of research as an active member who is ready to change the situation more so in the organizations with the aim of addressing strategies they can use to combat various problems they encounter in their surroundings prior the operations within which they practice their obligations. The following are my research questions: * Will the strategy be useful in various organizations to help in time management among the employees and the administration? * Will the strategy be vital in making the students change their study skills as well as their habits? * How will the plan be crucial to the community? Will it be beneficial to the Home Owners organizations’ meetings? In this case I am going to use three forms of data based on how they will serve towards making my research very informed. These forms of data include interviews, observations as well as questionnaire questions (Mackie, 2000). Firstly, interview is a conversation...
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...materials, evaluating them critically, organizing them into an organic whole and explaining the significance and relevance of the organized data in a narrative format. There are distinctions between the method and methodology as method is common to all sciences, independent, underived and definite, whereas methodology is not as it is a view or perspective to look through. Historical method is useful for theoretical and practical purpose as it provide useful and important information towards the solutions of the problem that makes possible to study the development of a particular idea, concept, philosophy or theory. 1.2.2. Methods of Inquiry The historical research has been heavily influenced by the social science research methods of...
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...interviewees. This type of research method produces qualitative data, that is rich and in detail piece of research. Data gained from unstructured interviews are recorded by looking for categories from the answers given from interviewees and tallying each time the category occurs. Investigating public’s perception of crime is a difficult sample to investigate using unstructured interviews. In the investigation the researcher must ensure that the findings from the sample will be able to generalise and being able to have access too such sample could be very difficult for the researcher. During the interview it is essential that the interviewer has the skills and techniques required to be able to build the rapport with the interviewee.Therefore before the research is conducted the interviewer must go through training to learn the essential tips regarding the method of research they have chosen. However, training could be expensive and this may be a problem for the researcher. Age is not an issue during this research as the target audience is the public, therefore all age groups are targeted. However, children would not be able to participate in an interview due to the topic of research. Although, when studying young adolescents attitude to crime and fear of crime individuals must consider the language used because if the vocabulary is elaborated some may find it difficult to comprehend the questions. Gender is also not so important during this research because it is the...
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...Characteristics of Different Social Science Research Methods ( by Oscar Mercado) |Criteria |Historical Study |Case Study |Survey |Experiment |Content Analysis |Feasibility Study | |When to use |When objective is to determine |When objective is to observe a |When objective is to see a |When objective is to determine |When objective is to find out |When objective is to find out | | |the growth and development of a |process in depth |general picture of people’s |the cause and effect |the type or quality of messages |the economic viability of | | |group, organization or | |awareness, knowledge, attitude |relationship of certain social |found in the mass media or |establishing a certain | | |institution | |and/or behavior towards a |phenomena under controlled |documents |infrastructure or institution | | | | |certain phenomenon |condition | | | |Source of data...
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...are some potential methods of researching violence against women? Specifically, what are ways in which violence against women could be studied using interpretative and critical frameworks? What would you change and why? What different types of information would you likely obtain using this research process? Methods of researching violence against women One of the potential methods of researching violence against women is through interviewing. The way an interview is conducted affects the likelihood of the respondents to report incidents that are distressing. One should consider the gender of the interviewer, special training in sensitive interviewing and privacy during the interview. The presence of a violent partner in the room where the woman is being interviewed reduces the reporting of the violence (Walby & Myhill, 2001). Dedicated surveys can also be used to research violence against women since they focus on the issue of violence against women and facilitate a further number of methodological adjustments, reduce the time spent on such questions and remove the potentially restrictive crime context. Face-to-face interviews, telephone, self-completion on a computer and using postal questionnaires can be used to conduct surveys (Walby & Myhill, 2001). Interpretive and critical frameworks Violence against women can be studied using the quantitative and qualitative methods. The qualitative method is from an interpretive framework. The qualitative method gathers information...
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