Research Steps and Difficulties

Research Methods and Difficulties

IGCSE Sociology

​Lesson Objectives

• ​Identify the different steps in conducting research in Sociology.

• ​Describe each part along with difficulties connected to it.

​Step 1: Selection of a topic

​Sociological resarch starts with the identification of a problem.

• their personal interests, experience and observations

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

• ​social changes and developments -- there may be something new that we know little about

• ​whether funding is available, which may depend on how important funders think the topic is

• ​how practical it will be to do the research; for example will it possible to identify the contact respondents?

• ​what ethical issues are raised by this topic?

​Step 1: Selection of a topic

Problematize your topic.

• Best research often involves problems that are also puzzles: not just lack of information but a lack of understanding.

​

• ​For example: Is there inequality in canteen ULC policies?

​Identifying a topic for research

​There may be practical problems that can be foreseen, such as finding respondents.

reviewing existing evidence

It may be difficult to find existing evidence; the researcher may have to check many possible sources.

GRoup ​ACTIVITY: 10 minutes

​In your groups, discuss the following:

• After problematizing your topic, what will be your final three research questions?

• What types of problems your group might face given your research questions?

​

​

​Open your class notebook and answer the collaborative space Worksheet 5 Step 1

STEP 2: Hypothesis Setting and Revision

Turn your ideas into a clear hypothesis (a theory or explanation at the start of the research that will be tested). Hypothesis is like a an 'educated guess'.

​

​Note: You might need to revise your hypothesis after you have researched and analyzed your data.

developing a hypothesis or aim

At this stage difficult choice must be made about the overall approach; for example what kinds of data are required.

GRoup ​ACTIVITY: 10 minutes

​In your groups, discuss the following:

• What's your hypothesis?

• ​What types of data will you collect to test such a hypothesis?

​

​

​Open your class notebook and answer the collaborative space Worksheet 5.

​STEP 3: Selection of research method

Choose from the list of Quantitative and Qualitative approaches. To collect both primary or secondary data.

choosing a method

Your chosen method may not produce data that can confirm or disprove the hypothesis or does not fulfill the aim of the project.

Implementing research method

These problems can be classified as practical, ethical or theoretical.

GRoup ​ACTIVITY: 10 minutes

​In your groups, discuss the following:

• ​What types of research methods will you use? (Select three)

• ​What types of problems/issues you might encounter in using those research methods?

​

​

​Open your class notebook and answer the collaborative space Worksheet 5.

​STEP 4: Pilot studies

Review more available evidence. This is also called as literature review.

​Look for the following:

​- Who else has identified the same problem?

​- How did they investigate it?

​

​You may use google scholar or ebscofor the list of research related to your topic.

scholar.google.com

​ebsco.com

​STEP 4: Pilot studies

Whatevery methods you have chosen, it is important whenever possible to test it with a small number of respondents or in a limited way to see if there are any problems in the design.

​

​For example: a pilot questionnaires taken by your friends.

GRoup ​ACTIVITY: 10 minutes

​In your groups, discuss the following:

• ​Use google scholar or ebsco, research for any studies that relate to your research.

  • How did they study the topic?

  • What research methods did they use?

​

​

​

​Open your class notebook and answer the collaborative space Worksheet 5

​STEP 5: Sampling

Researchers has to choose an appropriate sample for the research by selecting some of all possible respondents. This process is called 'sampling'.

​

​We'll cover more on this next meeting.

​STEP 6: Analysis

Once the data are colelcted and the information recorded, researchers analyse them and use the findings to answer their questions (prove or disprove their hypothesis)

​

​Further questions can be added in this step.

​STEP 7: CREATE your output

Reseachers have to report their output so other researchers can read and use them in other research.

​

​Findings are normally published in books and journals.

​

​Your mini-research will be presented on December.

Poll

How confident are you?