Transcript Slide 1

Do now – Red box activity!
I’ve marked your books and have given you each individual
tasks and questions to complete and respond to.
You must complete these inside the red box in your
books using your green pen . These may be spellings,
grammar, redrafts, extension questions…
Make sure you read each point carefully and ask if you are
unsure.
• You have 10 mins only!
TIF: Use your green pen to go back through your book and
respond to other comments I have made
Now – Target setting
Turn to the progress tracker at the front of your book.
In the first box, write in:
Keywords __
Book work___
Current grade ___
Then write your target based on the next steps I have given
you.
Aims/Hypothesis
Pilot studies
Selecting
samples
Collecting data
Analysing data
Evaluating the
project
What is the
difference between
a structured and
unstructured
interview?
Why are pilot
studies useful?
Why is it important
to use both closed
& open questions?
Why is it
sometimes
necessary to use
secondary
research?
Exam Practice
Identify and explain one reason why sociologists use a pilot
study in questionnaire-based research. (4 marks)
One reason is because a pilot study often shows up
mistakes or problems. For example, by piloting a
questionnaire, a sociologist can check whether the
wording of questions is clear to the respondents. The
sociologist can also check that the questionnaire doesn’t
take too long to complete. If it takes up too much time or
some questions are unclear, the sociologist can change
the questionnaire before sending out lots of copies.
Qualitative or quantitative?
Date: Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Research continued – Observation
Lesson Outcomes:
1.
Describe different
observation techniques.
2. Analyse the strengths
& limitations of different
observation techniques.
Starter: Write a list of all the TV
shows you can think of where
people were being observed
(watched) e.g. Big Brother
Did they know? Was the observer part of the group? Did their behaviour
change?
Participant Observation
The researcher gets actively involved in the
actions of the groups they are researching.
e.g. If a person is observing gangs they will
take part in the activities of the gang.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a49GpjIEOFY
Task
1) Define this keyword
2) Describe situations where this method would be good
3) Analyse the advantages & disadvantages
TIF - What do you think ‘the observer effect’ may be?
Non Participant Observation
When a researcher observes but does not
take part in the activity.
This is like when you have had someone
come in and observe a lesson.
Overt Observation
This is where the group you are watching
know that you are a researcher.
Covert Observation
This is where the people you are
researching do not know you are there to
observe them.
Observations
Participant observation
Researcher takes part in activities in order to study it e.g.
joins a gang.
Non-participant observation
Researcher observes from a distance e.g. observing a
lesson.
Overt observation
Respondents know they are being observed.
Covert observation
Respondents do not know they are being observed.
n.b observations could also be quantitative if noting statistics
Jennni Ward (2008) studied drug use and drug selling within the London rave dance
culture during the 1990s. Semi-covert participant observation was used as the main
study method. By blending in among her friends, she was able to examine drug use and
selling activities as they occurred in their natural settings. In doing so, she generated indepth, rich data. Jenni Ward suggests that sitting down with a drug seller, pen poised
ready to record illegal activities, could have closed down a study before it even began.
I located myself over a five-year period in London nightclubs, dance parties, bars and
pubs and people’s houses. I was already a member of the rave dance drugs culture
when my study began. I was friends with people whose social and leisure lives were
embedded within the ‘clubbing’ scene. These people became a focus of my study.
Rather than people being systematically recruited to my study, they were drawn in, as
part of the friendship circle to which I belonged.
I used a semi-covert style of observation, as while many of the people I was socialising
with knew I was undertaking a study of drug selling, over time they often forgot that I
was a researcher. They simply viewed me as a member of the friendship group to which
we belonged. The problem with this was that many observations were made in
situations where people were not fully aware that their actions were the focus of my
research. In my desire not to upset naturally occurring activities, I generally did not
announce my research.
1)
2)
3)
4)
What does Jenni Ward mean by ‘semi-cover participant observation’?
What were the advantages of her method?
What were the risks
Why could this be seen as unethical?
a) Are not harmed
e) full member
h) overt
b) consent
c) covert
d) daily life
f) illegal activities
g) observer effect
i) too many questions
j) unethical
With participant observation (PO), the researcher studies a group by becoming
a (1)___ of the group and participating in its (2)___. In an (3)___PO study, the
group’s members are aware that the participant observer is doing research on
them. However, this may lead to the (4)___-whereby group members change
their behaviour because they know they are being studied.
In a (5)___PO study, the researcher does not tell the group that they are
carrying out research. This avoids the observer effect but means that the
researcher may avoid asking (6)____ in case they ‘blow their cover’.
Some supporters of covert PO argue that it may be the only way to study
(7)___ and that it is acceptable so long as participants (8)___as a result of
taking part in the research. Others argue that covert PO is justified because it
removes the observer effect.
However, critics argue that covert PO is (9)___or morally unacceptable. This is
because participants are not informed that they are being studied so they do
not get the chance to give, withhold or withdraw their (10)___
Each method of observation has its advantages and
disadvantages…
Research
method
Advantage
Participant
observation
Observer can be a part of the
process so can really see &
experience what is going on
Non-participant
observation
Observer remains safe
Overt
observation
Ethical
Covert
observation
Respondents act as they
normally would
Disadvantage
Can be dangerous for
observer
Observer cannot get a
feel for what is
happening
“observer effect” means
respondents may act
differently
Unethical
Qualitative research – i.e. observing or
interviewing
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Can provide full picture of
answers and reasons behind
them (ethnographic)
• Can be used to inform
answers to social issues
• Not easy to compare
• May be time consuming to
analyse
• Observer may be biased
when interpreting
Think of an example
of research that would
be suited to qualitative
research.
Date: Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Research continued – Sampling
Lesson Outcomes:
1.
Describe different
sampling techniques.
2. Identify sampling
strengths & limitations.
3. Apply
representativeness and
reliability to studies
using different sampling
techniques.
INPUT 1
What is sampling?
Constructing
comes
early
onthe
in the
Jane wants atosample
find out
about
how
attitudes
process
of sociological
research.
It involves
of students
affect their
GCSE
grades.
selecting the people you will carry out the research
with/on.
John needs to research the roles of single
fathers in the home.
Research population: the group of people or
Wendy is researching
the genders
of heart
fraudof
institutions
(family, schools
etc) at the
criminals.
the research.
Why wants
can’t we
thewhy
whole
population?
Bob
tosample
find out
a growing
proportion
Sample frame: a list of the members of the
of violent
are female.
population
(e.g.: criminals
school register
or postcode
Alan is researching the role of the family in
list)
gender socialisation of girls under the age of 5
in Hertfordshire.
LO: Understanding different types of samples and their strengths and weaknesses.
Ways to sample (sampling ACTIVITY 1
methods)
Quota Sampling:
Snowball Sampling:
Systematic Sampling:
Random Sampling:
Stratified Random Sampling:
Each member of the population has an
equal chance of being included in the
sample. Researchers use a computer
to generate random numbers (e.g.
Lollypop sticks)
This involves using every nth number
from a sample frame. E.g.: every fifth
person in a sample of 100 people
(person 5, 15, 25 etc)
Used for difficult groups without a
sample frame, the researcher contacts
one member of the population and
gains their trust, they then connect the
researcher to others. (e. g.: gangs or
homeless people)
Sample population is divided up in
proportion to the wider population and
researchers find the quota (number) to
research from. E.g.: street researchers
need to make up their sample of
teenagers or middle aged women
Researchers divide population into strata (layers) and select random samples of each
strata in relation to the proportion of people in society. E.g.: Westfield: 62% white
background, 25% Indian/Pakistani - a sample of 10 people would include 6 people of
any white background and 3 people of Indian/Pakistani background.
LO: Understanding different types of samples and their strengths and weaknesses.
INPUT 2
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths and weaknesses in sample
methods can be identified using the
language of sociology:
- Validity
- Representative
- Reliable
LO: Understanding different types of samples and their strengths and weaknesses.
REVIEW 2
Type of sample
Description
Strength
Limitation
Systematic
Sampling
Random Sampling
Stratified random
sampling
Systematic
sampling
Snowball Sampling
LO: Understanding different types of samples and their strengths and weaknesses.
Sampling – who are you going to ask?
Random
Stratified
Systematic
Quota
Snowball
Opportunistic
Set quota controls e.g. age, sex, ethnicity etc. For example
“I will only question teenage girls.”
Use a sampling frame (list) and choose respondents using
a pattern e.g. “I will question every 10th person on this list.”
Ask a small group of people and then get them to pass it
on to another set of people e.g “I will ask 10 single mums
and then get them to ask another 10 single mums.”
Use a sampling frame (list) and choose respondents
randomly so that everyone has an equal chance of being
chosen e.g. “I will choose a random 10 people from this
list.”
Select the group based on the makeup of a certain strata
e.g. “There are 60% girls and 40% boys in this school.
Therefore, 60% of those I sample will be girls and 40%
boys.”
Questioning anyone available
Sampling – who are you going to ask?
Random
Stratified
Systematic
Quota
Snowball
Opportunistic
Set quota controls e.g. age, sex, ethnicity etc. For example
“I will only question teenage girls.”
Use a sampling frame (list) and choose respondents using
a pattern e.g. “I will question every 10th person on this list.”
Ask a small group of people and then get them to pass it
on to another set of people e.g “I will ask 10 single mums
and then get them to ask another 10 single mums.”
Use a sampling frame (list) and choose respondents
randomly so that everyone has an equal chance of being
chosen e.g. “I will choose a random 10 people from this
list.”
Select the group based on the makeup of a certain strata
e.g. “There are 60% girls and 40% boys in this school.
Therefore, 60% of those I sample will be girls and 40%
boys.”
Questioning anyone available
Ethical issues
Anonymity = can you ensure that no-one finds out who your respondents
are?
Confidentiality = can you ensure that private answers are kept private?
Informed consent = do your respondents understand what they are
consenting to?
Exam Questions – There will always be a set of questions
asking you to plan a research project
(e) As a sociologist, you have been asked to investigate attitudes
towards citizenship education among students in a large
comprehensive school.
(i) Identify and explain one possible ethical issue that you might
need to address while you are carrying out your research (4 marks)
(ii) Identify one secondary source of information that you would use in
your study and explain why you would use this source (4 marks)
(iii) Identify one primary method of research that you would use in
your study and explain why this method would be better than
another primary method for collecting the data that you need (6
marks)