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THEORIES AND METHODS: starting a study - Coggle Diagram
THEORIES AND METHODS: starting a study
DATA TYPES
primary data
new data that did not exist before, collected by researchers themselves
questionnaires, interviews, observations
able to gather precise information suiting their hypothesis
secondary data
data already exists, collected and created by other people
historical records, official statistics, autobiographies
quick and cheap
quantitative/qualitative
quantitative
information numerical form, statistical data
qualitative
data that isn't numerical, gives a feel for what something is like
PET ISSUES
practical issues
issues to do with actually doing the research
time and money
funding
personal skills and characteristics
subject matter
research opportunities
ethical issues
making sure research project is morally correct and causes no harm to pptps or society
informed consent
confidentiality and privacy
wellbeing
vulnerable groups
deception
theoretical issues
CARRYING OUT RESEARCH
3) the pilot study
positivists carry out practice run to a small sample to see if the research works
1) formulating aim or hypothesis
hypothesis- possible explanation that can be tested by collecting evidence to prove it true or false (quantative, positivist)
aim- identifies what we intend to study, hoping to achieve through research (qualititative, interpretivist)
4) sampling
a selection of a smaller group from the wider population that researchers wish to study
sampling frame
- a list of people's names which is used as the source to collect a random sample
census
register/student lists
birth records
electoral register
doctors lists
two types sampling
representative
non-representative
representative
random sample
systematic/quasi sampling
stratified random sampling
quota sampling
non-representative
snowball sampling
opportunity sampling
2) operationalising concepts
defining a phenomenon that is not directly measurable e.g. social class in school defined by FSM
(if two sociologists operationalise differently, it can make it hard to compare two pieces of research)