Research methods

Research methods

1. Practical Issues

   • Time and Money - Different methods need different amounts of time and money, which may influence the sociologists choice e.g. large-scale surveys may need dozens of interviewers.
   • Requirements of funding bodies - Businesses/other organisations that provide funding for research may want the results in a certain form.
   • Personal skills and characteristics - Each sociologists has different types of skills (may affect ability for different methods)
   • subject matter - May be harder to study a particular group or subject by one method than another.
   • Research opportunity -Sometimes the chance to carry out research happens unexpectedly which means it wont be possible to use structured methods e.g. questionnaires because it takes longer to prepare.

2. Ethical Issues

   • Informed consent - Research participants should be offered the right to refuse. The researcher should also tell them about relevant aspects of the research. Also, consent should be given before research begins.
   • Confidentiality and privacy - Researchers should keep the identity of the participants' secret