Unit Intro + QFT

Unit Intro + QFT

IGCSE Sociology

​Lesson objectives

• ​Understand a brief description of the unit's topics

• ​Select 3 research questions based on the prompt

​Unit 1.2 Methods

​Unit goals:

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• ​describe the main stages in sociological research

• ​describe the main methods used in sociological research and be able to evaluate them referring to practical, ethical, and theoretical issues

• ​understand the main types of information and data in sociology:

  • quantitative and qualitative data

  • primary and secondary data

​In this unit, you will conduct a mini-research

• The class will be divided into groups of three.​

• ​Your mini-research should answer three (3) main questions.

• ​The output will be in the form of the following:

  • ​Essay

  • ​Video

  • ​Infographic

  • ​Photo Essay

• ​The output is part of your Homework grade

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​Note: rubrics to follow

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The output will be considered as your Homework grade for the 2nd Quarter and can be in the form of the following​

1000-word essay

6-minute video

Infographic with 300-word description

Photo essay (6 pictures with 50-word caption per picture)

OUTPUT

• ​Your output will be graded on the following

  • ​Content - use of sociological knowledge

  • ​Organisation - unity of ideas and answering of questions

  • ​Methodology - use of research methods (minimum of two methods)

  • ​Evidence - use of sources (minimum of three sources)

​UNIT schedule

• ​Choosing of topic and research questions

• ​Positivism/Interpretivism

• ​Sampling

• ​Difficulties in implementing research

• ​Ethical issues

• ​Primary and secondary sources

• Questionnaires/Social surveys

• ​Interviews

• ​Experiments

• ​Case studies

• ​Longitudinal studies

• ​Participant observation

• ​Non-participant observation

• ​Content analysis

• ​Triangulation

​GROUPINGS

​Group 1

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• ​ Joey

• ​Aurora

• ​Branca

• ​Amos

​Group 2

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• ​ Ella

• ​Jerry

• ​Josephine

• ​Cherry

​Group 3

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• ​ Audrey

• ​Milky

• ​Dawn

• ​Vanny

​Group 4

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• ​ Esme

• ​Jerry

• ​Hurdinence

• ​Peter

​MINI-RESEARCH TOPIC

​Choosing a topic

​Look for a sociological problem or issues that ULC might be facing.

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Take note that best research involves problems that puzzle: not just lack of information by lack of understanding. The explanation is important.

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​Research projects do not stand alone, they are always related to or even arise directly from earlier research.

Examples of topics

• ​equality

• ​information

• ​education

• ​student rights

• ​identity

• ​ethics

• ​family

• ​detention

​Equality

​Sample Questions: Is there a gender difference in subjects that male and female teachers teach ULC?

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• What subjects do male and female ULC teachers teach?

• ​What are the reasons for gender difference, if any?

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Things that you might use in choosing a topic

• ​personal interests, experiences and observations

• ​what is already known about the topic and what is not yet known about it

• ​changes or something new about the topic

• ​how practical your research be (is it possible to contact respondents?)

• ​what ethical issues are raised by this topic

Topic Exploration - Question Formulation Technique

​Group Activity: 7 minutes

1. ​Ask as many questions as you can about related to the content of the ULC newsletter

2. ​Do not stop, discuss, judge or answer the questions

3. ​Record exactly as stated

4. ​Change statements into question. ​For example:

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ULC has a great mission/vision

-->

What are the mission and vision of ULC?

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Open Ended

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Close-ended Questions?

Example: What is the mission/vision of ULC?

Open Ended

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Open-ended Questions?

Example: How is the mission/vision of ULC practiced inside the school?

​Group Activity: COLLABORATION SPACES (3 minutes)

​Using your group's list of questions, identify open and close-ended questions. Write an 'O' for open-ended and a 'C' for close-ended.

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​For example:

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​What are the mission and vision of ULC? (C)

​Group Activity: 5 minutes

Put a check beside three questions that your group is most interested about and wants to answer.

​Worksheet

• ​Identify the three questions that your group wants to answer

• ​Why did you pick these questions?

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​Upload your answers to Collaboration Space in One Notebook.