P.E.T

P.E.T

1. PRACTICAL

   • TIME: some take more time e.g. unstructured interviews
   • COST: affects no. of researchers, respondents & time
   • SOURCE OF FUNDING: sponsored by gov, buisnesss, voluntary organisations - reflects concerns of funding bodies
   • PERSONAL FACTORS: researchers have careers, family commitments - may not be able to do lengthy research
   • RESEARCH SUBJECTS: some groups less open
   • OPPORTUNITY: suddenly appears=no time to prepare questionnaires/interviews
   • PERSONAL DANGER: direct contact w/ research group=increased danger to researcher
   • EVAL: limits research choice

2. ETHICAL

   • INFORMED CONSENT: shouldn't mislead/manipulate
   • CONFIDENTIALITY: right to anonymity, shouldn't be identifiable when research is published
   • EFFECTS ON RESEARCH SUBJECTS: findings can be used by political groups/media that may be damaging
   • VULNERABLE GROUPS: age, gender, disability - additional consent required
   • COVERT RESEARCH: problem of deception, withholding researchers identity - difficult to gain access
   • EVAL: limits research choice

3. THEORETICAL

   • positivists prefer quantiative
     • cause & effect behaviours
     • identify patterns & trend in behaviour
     • structured techniques
     • reliable, representative data
   • interpretivists - qualitative
     • uncover meanings people hold
     • allow them to act/speak in the ways they feel appropriate
     • unstructured methods
     • valid, qualitative data