Methodology

1
Methodology

• Getting Started.

2
Where do you start?

• Your hypothesis may influence your choice of
  methodology.

3
Other factors influencing your choice of
method(s) are

• Time and therefore money.
• Access to data.
• Situational constraints ie the fact that you
  are but A level students.
• Previous research.

4
Other factors influencing your choice of
method(s) are

• The phenomena at hand it may lend itself to a
  particular method. The White Haired Offender-
  Azrini Wahidin that claims Methods are informed
  and shaped by the research.

5
Epistemological assumptions.

• What knowledge is valid? The study of the nature
  of knowledge.
• Sociology and Science (Sociology Review
  February 2000) comments on the Positivists
  approach Positivists argue thathuman behaviour
  is a response to observable social
  conditionsthat social behaviour is determined
  and can be explained in terms of cause and effect
  relationships.

6
Epistemological assumptions.

• Ken Browne However argues (Interpretavist
  phonological view) Human behaviour cannot be
  predicted with certainty. People might react
  differently to the same circumstance on a
  different occasion- not everyone facing the same
  set of circumstance will commit suicide.
• In Sociology Reviews The White Haired Offender
  Azrini Wahidin says To understand the meaning
  and motives of social action is the goal of
  researchers- and this is only possible by using
  qualitative data.

7
Durkheims Rules of Sociological Method

• Emile Durkheims Rules of Sociological Method,
  set out the phenomena to be studied and the ways
  to study them.
• Le Suicide, researched the phenomena of suicide.
  
• Durkheims aim being that he could prove that
  even the most individualistic action could be
  correlated to society.

8
Durkheims Rules of Sociological Method

• However research was heavily criticised for not
  interrogating the statistics supplied to him by
  coroners from around Europe.
• Do you want to follow Durkheims lead by relying
  on empirical qualitative data? This is not an
  effective way of researching respondents
  emotions and their subjective view on the issue.
  

9
Participant Observation

• An unethical research method?
• Practical constraints
• Weber advocated the concept of Verstehen that is
  where one would attempt to become closely
  attached to the subjects of study in an attempt
  to begin to understand how these individuals
  interpret things that are around him. One
  develops an Empathy.

10
Studies

• Humphreys Tearoom Trade took this type of
  view on researching homosexuality behaviour.
• Paul Willis Learning to Labour studied a small
  male group from a school. The problems with this
  research was gaining entry into the institution,
  it took six months of discussion with the
  headmaster before he could gain entry.
• PO has it advantages and many consider it as true
  sociology. As I sat and listened I learnt the
  answers to the questions that I would not have
  had the sense to ask.

11
Participant Observation - Advantages.

• Social behaviour is in its natural setting.
• Offers the chance for small scale detailed
  research.
• Gives validity to the meanings that actors attach
  to their actions.
• Constructs the world according to the actors
  norms \ values \ language.
• It may be used prior to a survey to establish
  relevant questions.

12
Participant Observation - Disadvantages.

• Researcher becomes too involved and a poor
  observer.
• As the study group is not representative
  generalisations are not possible. (Bothered?)
• Recording information is problematic.
• Is it ethical - Humphreys argued that research is
  unethical if
• the sociologist misrepresents their identity to
  gain information.
• The sociologist breaks confidence.
• The research has negative consequences for those
  being studied.

13
Participant Observation - Disadvantages.

• It may be physically dangerous for the observer.
• It may take a long time to get in, stay in, get
  out.
• Can a researcher ever lose their identity and
  study a group objectively?
• The observers presence will change group dynamics
  therefore behaviour.

14
Structured Interviews

• Is there the possibility of building up a
  conversation with the person? In Sociology
  Reviews article Which Research Interview Andy
  Hobson claims that It is much easier (compared
  to other methods) for researchers/interviewees to
  get at what they want and ensure that all aspects
  of the research agenda are covered.
• However Andy Hobson goes on to say The degree
  of structure involved might influence the
  respondents perspective and responses.

15
Structured Interviews

• Another major problem with unstructured (and even
  structured) interviews is that those responding
  many not give an accurate or truthful response
  because they are attempted to impress or please
  the researcher.
• This is called the Halo Effect and may indeed
  affect the final results.
• Andy Hobson comments on the practicalities of
  interviews Conduction of interviews can be a
  time consuming activity, and thatoften means
  that the sample is not sufficiently large to
  allow generalisations. (This may not be a
  problem if you do not wish to generate scientific
  laws / macro sociology.)

16
Structured Interviews - Advantages.

• one can establish a good rapport... honest
  information can be obtained.
• people can speak for themselves.
• meanings behind actors actions can be explored -
  rather than just discovering the facts.
• A tape recorder can be referred back to at a
  later date.

17
Structured Interviews - Disadvantages.

• The success of the interview relies on the skill
  of the interviewer.
• Bias - NVC - prompts, follow up certain leads,
  more than 1 interviewer different biases.
• Time consuming expensive.
• Samples are small.
• refusal to be interviewed may skew sample.
• The questions that you ask will construct the
  reality you are attempting to investigate.

18
Secondary Data

• Official Statistics.
• Mass Media
• Letters
• Diaries
• Previous Research.

19
Official Statistics

• Only reflect what has been reported to the
  official agencies e.g., levels of rape \ free
  school meals.
• Advantages Large sample sizes.
• Information is easily available from the Home
  Office or other govt dept.
• Warning when using statistics political bias
  the statistics only reflecting the tips of the
  iceberg.

20
Pilot Study

• Wilmot and Young in their study of Family Life
  in Bethnal Green began with a pilot study in
  order to pick out on certain themes that
  repeatedly turned up in the questionnaires, as
  well as gauging whether or the subject was being
  truthful.
• Pilot studies eradicate many problems with the
  questionnaires. (Or other method)
• The wording of the questions could be interpreted
  in different ways by the respondent.
• Respondents may be unwilling to discuss the
  issues with you.

21
Internet

• In Sociology Review Volume 4 1997, and article
  entitled Using the Internet for A level
  sociology discussed how the Internet was an
  invaluable resource for a sociology student.
• Ethically - it ensures confidentiality and
  emotional security.
• However, due to the detachment of respondent and
  it would be difficult to determine whether or not
  all individuals were telling the truth in the
  information they send.
• There is of course still the problem of the Halo
  effect were individuals would perhaps know what
  kind of one is looking for and thus this may
  lead them to certain responses.

22
A good internet site is

• http//freespace.virgin.net/chris.livesey/rload.ht
  m

23
Triangulation

• Triangulation can be illustrated by a study
  entitled Belfast in the 30s an Oral History
  (Macdonald and Tipton 1993) they say this on
  their studyWe systematically did a
  cross-method triangulation, in that every piece
  of oral evidence that could be, was checked
  against a range of written sources.

24
Triangulation

• Furthermore Derran (1970) saw triangulation as a
  way of assessing the validity and reliability of
  research and the data and information it
  highlights.

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Triangulation

• Bremen continued to highlight ways in which
  triangulation can be useful.
• Firstly qualitative and quantative data can be
  compared and checked against one another to reach
  a confirmed conclusion.
• Secondly, that each approach can be used together
  to gain a more in depth complete picture.

26
Triangulation

• Eileen Barker study of the unification Church
  (otherwise known as the Moonies) used participant
  observation, questionnaires along with
  interviews.
• She said this as the reasoning of her combining
  the methods See how the movement as a whole
  was organised and how it influenced the day to
  day actions and interaction of its members.

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Triangulation - Advantages.

• It is possible to gain both QUANTITATIVE and
  QUALITATIVE data. thus overcoming any ideological
  constraints re methodology.
• It is possible to check the reliability of
  different sources.
• It is possible to check that your own
  interpretation is accurate.

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Triangulation - Disadvantages.

• It is time consuming.
• it is costly.
• some sociologists would argue that some methods
  are unacceptable from their theoretical
  perspective.

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Conclusion?

• Perhaps the most important part of the research
  is that there is a capacity for it to be
  replicated, to validate the information that you
  collect.