Examine the extent to which practical issues are the most important influence when selecting research methods and a research topic. (20 marks)
Examine the extent to which practical issues are the most important influence when selecting research methods and a research topic. (20 marks)
When choosing research methods and topics sociologists must take into consideration a range of different factors, practicality certainy being an influential one. Other factors impacting on choice of research methods or topics include ethnical and theoretical issues.
Firstly time and money is a practical issue took into consideraton because different methods requre different amounts of time and money. Questionairres are usually the cheapest and least time consuming method therefore many sociologists will be limited to just using this method if they havent got large funds or lots of time. Even if the sociologist doesn't like this form of method because of theoretical issues they still have to use the method because of the practicality. Other methods such as participent observation and unstructured interviews are deemed as time consuming and expencive therefore the sociologist may choose other methods because these are unpractical.
Secondly a practical issue influencing a sociologists choice of method may be the funding body. This is the person who is funding the research and is usually either the government, a university or a privte funder like a buisness. Perhaps the funder has limited money or time or prefurs certain research methods, this will influence the sociologists choice hugley as without the funder they are most likley not in the position to carry out the research. If the sociologist is also reciveing a wage from the funder they are inclinded to carry out the research from their specific instrutions.
The sociologists choice of method can also be influenced by their own personal skills and sociol status which is considered as a practical issue. If the sociologist is shy and doesn't feel comfortable in sociol situations speaking to people they are most likley to choose a method more practical to them which
When choosing research methods and topics sociologists must take into consideration a range of different factors, practicality certainy being an influential one. Other factors impacting on choice of research methods or topics include ethnical and theoretical issues.
Firstly time and money is a practical issue took into consideraton because different methods requre different amounts of time and money. Questionairres are usually the cheapest and least time consuming method therefore many sociologists will be limited to just using this method if they havent got large funds or lots of time. Even if the sociologist doesn't like this form of method because of theoretical issues they still have to use the method because of the practicality. Other methods such as participent observation and unstructured interviews are deemed as time consuming and expencive therefore the sociologist may choose other methods because these are unpractical.
Secondly a practical issue influencing a sociologists choice of method may be the funding body. This is the person who is funding the research and is usually either the government, a university or a privte funder like a buisness. Perhaps the funder has limited money or time or prefurs certain research methods, this will influence the sociologists choice hugley as without the funder they are most likley not in the position to carry out the research. If the sociologist is also reciveing a wage from the funder they are inclinded to carry out the research from their specific instrutions.
The sociologists choice of method can also be influenced by their own personal skills and sociol status which is considered as a practical issue. If the sociologist is shy and doesn't feel comfortable in sociol situations speaking to people they are most likley to choose a method more practical to them which