unit 2: research methods self study support booklet...methods? what is the sampling frame? give one...

Year 1: Theory and Methods

Unit 2: Research Methods

Self Study Support Booklet

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For each topic in this booklet there are the following resources:

• Topic outline sheet • Overview of what you need to know. • Checklist for the self study process to tick off. • Traffic Light to tick for reflection • List of Key Terms and Key Thinkers.

• Topic Summary sheets• These are A4 versions of these sheets. A3 ones are available in the classroom

folders or digital copies can be downloaded from the class website. • Try to fill in as much of this sheet as you can from your pre-reading and then fill

in any gaps (in a different colour) after the lesson.

• Consolidation / Trigger Sheets• These sheets should be completed at first without any notes to see what you

remember and have retained on this topic. This will help you to reflect accurately on your understanding of the topic.

• There are number of different activities that can be used here, make sure that you read the instructions carefully.

• 10 Question Quick Quiz• Try to answer without your notes and then use your notes and textbook etc to

self check and identify areas you still need to go over.

• Exam Practice• 10 Marks No Item

• Breakdown the question so that you are clear on what the question is asking and then consider 4-5 possible answers to the question.

• 20 Mark Question Breakdown sheet (A3 versions are available in the classroom)• Breakdown the question and identify what needs to be included in the

introduction, what information you can use from the item, what points you can make from your own knowledge and the evaluation points you could use.

• Timed practice• This should be done in timed conditions, if you run out of time finish in a different

colour. Practice must be self marked using the self assessment sheets before handing in to be looked at by your teacher.

Research Design

Topic reflection


❑ The stages Hypothetico-Deductive method

❑ Key terms of research design.

❑ Factors affecting the choice of research topic.

Check List

❑ Pre Reading Notes / Summary Sheet

❑ Class Notes

❑ Consolidation Notes / Trigger sheet

❑ Short answer questions

❑ Key Word Quadrants (optional)

❑ Exam Question Breakdown

❑ Timed Practice – Self Assessed

I missed this / I need help

I need to go back over this.

I get this topic

Key terms for this topic Key Thinkers

What you need to know:

• Hypothetico-Deductive

Model

• Correlation

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

• Reliability

• Validity

• Triangulation

• Case Study

• Piolet Study

• Ethnographies

• Longitudinal Studies

• Hypothesis

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Consolidation / Trigger Sheet:

Hypothesis

Pilot Study

Longitudinal Study



Reliability

Validity

Correlation


Knowledge Check Questions

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What is the hypothetico-deducitivemodel?

What is a longitudinal study?

What is a pilot study?

Name three factors which will influence a researcher choice of topic.

What is meant by triangulation?

What is the difference between correlation and causation?

What is an ethnographic study?

What is a case study?

What is the first stage of the hypothetico-deductive model?

What is the difference between reliability and validity?

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Factors affecting choice of Research Method

Topic reflection


❑ Practical factors affecting choice of research method

❑ Ethical factors affecting choice of research method

❑ Evaluate the importance of the factors in choosing research methods.

Check List


❑ Class Notes








I get this topic



• Practical

• Ethical

• Theoretical

• Time

• Cost

• Access

• Funding

• Informed Consent

• Deception

• Right to Withdrawal

• Protection from Harm

• Confidentiality

• Privacy

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

• Gate Keepers

• Pre-Emptive Consent

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For each of the suggested research studies identify which of the ethical considerations will need to be take into account if completing the study and how it could be overcome. Remember to

explain your decisions.

Privacy

Aim: To find out the

factors which lead to

higher obedience to

instructions.

Method: Experiment

Privacy


impact of teacher

and pupil interactions

on achievement.

Method Observation



Privacy


causes of domestic

violence.

Method: Interviews

Privacy

Aim: To see if there is

a difference in the

role of the father

according to class.

Method Observation



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Who are Gate Keepers?

What is the difference between confidentiality and privacy?

What is meant by access as a practical factor?

What is pre-emptive consent?

In what situation might informed consent not be necessary?

What is the difference between cost and funding?

Name 3 practical considerations when designing research.

What is meant by personal characteristics?

What are the two types of data type?

Name 3 ethical considerations when designing research.

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Research Methods

Topic reflection


❑ Identify the primary research methods.

❑ Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the primary research methods

❑ Identify the secondary research methods.

❑ Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the secondary research methods

Check List


❑ Class Notes








I get this topic

Key terms for this topic


• Primary

• Observation

• Interview

• Experiment

• Questionnaire

• Overt

• Covert

• Participant

• Non Participant

• Structured

• Unstructured

• Group

• Open

• Closed

• Field

• Lab

• Strength

• Limitation

• Secondary research

Methods

• Official Statistics

• Unofficial Statistics

• Documents

• Diaries

• Prior Research

• Content Analysis

• Media

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What are the 6 types of

observation?

What is the meaning of the term primary methods?

What is the difference between a field and lab experiment?

What are the two types of closed question that can be used on a questionnaire?

What are the four types of interview?

Give 2 practical limitations of using an interview.

Give two ethical considerations when using covert observation.

Give two practical limitations to using observations.

What is meant by a semi-structured interview?

Which primary methods would produce qualitative data?

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What is meant by secondary research methods?

What is a content analysis?

What is the difference between official and unofficial statistics?

Give one criticism of using official statistics.

Why do sociologists look at prior research?

Give one criticism of using personal documents in sociological research.

What is the difference between a personal and historical documents?

What are public documents?

Give one practical strength of using secondary methods.

Give one practical limitation to using secondary methods.



For each of the suggested research aims below determine which primary research method you think would be best and explain why. BE SPECIFIC.

Research Aim Method (s) Explanation

To study the factors affecting subject choice at GCSE.

To study the differences in criminal sentencing according to class.

To study the extent of religious belief in the UK.

To study the extent of equality within the family with regards to housework and child care.

To study how much choice parents have in the school their child attends.

To study the link between crime and the media.

To study why people join cults.

To find out if childhood experiences are getting better or worse in the UK

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Sampling

Topic reflection


❑ Identify different types of sampling methods

❑ Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each type of sampling method

Check List


❑ Class Notes








I get this topic

Key terms for this topic


• Sampling

• Research Population

• Sample

• Representativeness

• Quota

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Random

• Snowball

• Sampling frame

• Strata

• Opportunity

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Complete as much of this sheet as you can without looking at your notes.

• Level 1 = Identification• Level 2 = Describe• Level 3 = Evaluation – Strengths• Level 4 = Evaluation - Limitations



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What are the non-random sampling methods?

What is the sampling frame?

Give one strength of using Stratified sampling.

Give one criticism of using systematic sampling.

What is the research population?

Name 2 random sampling methods?

Explain how a systematic sampling is created.

What is the difference between representativeness and generalisability?

How is a quota sample collected?

What is a snowball sample?

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Theoretical Considerations

Topic reflection


❑ Identify the theoretical considerations in sociological research.

❑ The difference between reliability and validity.

❑ What impacts reliability and validity of a study.

Check List


❑ Class Notes








I get this topic



• Reliability

• Validity

• Representativeness

• Generalisability

• Hawthorne Effect

• Social Desirability

• Demand

Characteristics

• Data type

• Sample Size

• Group Dynamics

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What are the 4 theoretical considerations?

With which research method is Hawthorne Effect associated?

What is the difference between social desirability and demand characteristics?

What does validity mean?

Name two factors which can affect the validity of a study.

What is the difference between generalisability and representativeness?

What is meant by reliability?

What two factors can affect the representativeness and generalisability of a study?

What type of data is considered more reliable?

How can group dynamics impact validity?



Cohabitation in Britain

More couples are now cohabiting than ever before and many more children are being raised by non-married parents. Researchers Carol Smart and Pippa Stevens recently interviewed 40 cohabiting parents. They explored issues such as why they chose to cohabit rather than marry, and their views on marriage. The project was a small-scale qualitative study with a sample of 20 mothers and 20 fathers, which reflected a wide range of social class backgrounds.

Factors impacting Reliability Factors impacting ValidityFactors impacting

representativeness & Generalisability.

For each of the research studies outlined below think about and identify the theoretical issues that maybe faced by the researchers. Be specific and explain your points.

School experiences and pupil attendance

A recent study by Heather Malcolm found that many truants said the reasons they missedschool was due to being bullied, boring lessons, problems with teachers and peer pressure. The research found that 16% of secondary school pupils admitted truanting from school. Information was collected from 17 schools from various parts of England. The research was obtained from questionnaires completed by over 650 pupils.

Factors impacting Reliability Factors impacting Validity

Factors impacting representativeness &

Generalisability.



Racist bullying in schools

A survey in 2009 found that nearly half of teachers say that racist bullying is a problem in their schools. Since 2002, schools have been required to monitor and report all racist

incidents to their local authority after changes to the Race Relations Act.Figures for 2008 –9 show that almost 30 000 racist incidents were reported by schools to local authorities in England and Wales. Of these, 10 436 were at primary schools. In 51

cases, police became involved. Birmingham City Council had 1607 racist incidents, the highest number of any authority.

Factors impacting Reliability Factors impacting ValidityFactors impacting

representativeness & Generalisability.

Pupil’s Helped to Aim high

Black and mixed-race boys of African-Caribbean origin are among the lowest achieving groups within education. In 2004, for example, just 27% of this group of boys achieved fiveA* – C grades at GCSE, compared with 52% of the school population as a whole. In 2003, the government set up a programme called ‘Aiming High’ to help raise the achievementof African-Caribbean pupils. In 2006, a team of sociologists led by Leon Tikly evaluated the success of the project, using the research method of questionnaires to produce quantitative information about examination entries and rates of exclusion.

Factors impacting Reliability Factors impacting Validity

Factors impacting representativeness &

Generalisability.

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