Sociology
Quialitative Interviews
Case studies
Questionnaries and social surveys
Closed or pre-coded questions
Scaled questions
Open questions
Produce mainly quantitative data.
The researcher limits the responses that can be given
strongly agree /agree/neither agree nor disagree/
disagree/strongly disagree.
Self-completion questionnaire
Unstructured interviews
Semi-structured interviews
Group interviews
Brief set of prompts
Aim is to get the interviewee to talk free and the interviewer will try not to say very much
. Respondents answer the questions without any additional
guidance from the researcher
Postal questionnaires
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Reach large numbers of people so you can have a
large sample
Ways of improving the response rate
Sending a letter explaining the research
Sending a stamped, addressed envelope
Following up those who do not respond
Making the questionnaire as short and easy to complete as possible
Giving clear instructions and questions
Using people’s names in a letter
Incentive of money or the chance of being entered in
a prize draw if the questionnaire is returned.
The interviewer has an interview guide, that is, a lis of questions or fairly specific topics to be covered
Structure interviews
The researcher reads out the questions, including the answers allowed in closed questions, and records the respondents’ answers for them. This can be done as a telephone questionnaire or face-to-face
Guidelines for good interviews
Make the interviewee feel confortable
Create a certain amount of order, so the questions flow reasonably well
Language has to be undersandbale and relevant
Good Questionnarie desing
Keept a fact sheet record
The interview have to take place on a quiet and private setting
Are about one particular topic
The reasercher will have an interview guide with the different types of questions
Short with a clear layout
Clear and easy instructions
Many questions as necessary
Enable researchers to find out not just what individuals say but what they say as members of a group
Start with questions that are likely to interest participants
t enough alternative answers to allow participants to express their views
Strengths
Provide detail and valid data on teh point of view of response
Flexibility of the interview allows the interview to probe more deeply
Questions should not imply that an answer is right or wrong
Limitations
Time consuming
Avoid words that might not be understood by everyone
Difficult to replicate so they are less reliable that structred interviews
Questions that s that participants are likely to know
about and be able to give meaningful answers to.
Standardies questions are not used so is difficult to make generalistaoins
The respones may be affected by interviewer bias
Involve detail research on one or more examples of people or things
Can involve any method or combination of methods, quantitative or cualitative
Leave personal information for the end
Strengths
Can prove a deep and detail account of the case
Limitations
Strenghts
May be possible to draw wider conclusions
Strenghts
Allow different aspects of the case being studies to be explored using appropiate methods
Limitations
May only apply to the case so generalisations cannot be made
Low Response Rates
The findings cannot be replicated
Misunderstood questions
Involvemtn of the researchers can lead to them being influenced by their feelings
No certanty of who answered the questions
Longitudinal studies
Some questions might be answered
Are carried out periodically over a period of time, rather than as a one-off piece of reaserch
Cheap
Large samples from distant locations
No influence from the interviewer
Strenghs
Can complete when they want
It can show people's lives changes over time
See what factors may have brought about changes in people´s lives over time
Limitations
Limitations
Requires a considerable commitment of time and research over time
Can explain questions
Can improve questions depending on the interviewer
Higher response rate
Participant and non participant observation
Trust and valid answers
Participant observation
Used to develop understanding of the world from the point of view of the subjects of the research
May influence answers
The research put themselves in the same position as those they are studing
More time and expensive
Participants may give socially desirable answers
3 stages of the partcipant
1) Getting in
2) Staying in
3) Getting out
The approach may change between interviews
Covert and overt participant observation
In covert participation observation the group being observed does not know that research is taking place
In overt role, the group is aware that the research is taking place
Strenghts
High in validity
Deep understanding can be observed
Limitations
The presence of the participant may affect the behaviour of the group
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Non-participant observationn
Main reason for this is to reduce or eliminate the risk that people will be affected by the presence of the researcher or a new member of their social group
Avoid Hawthrone effect
Problem --> Does not allow the reasercher to investigate the meanings people attach to the behaviour that is being obsvered
Content analysis
Used to study the content of documents and the mass media
Strenghts
Used the data to test sociological theories and to change the content of the mass media
Reliable
Limitations
Difficult to decide what categories to use
Difficult to allocate material to different catergories