Tag: social research
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Problems of researching globalisation
Globalisation refers to the increasing interconnectedness of different regions across the world. Globalisation is one of the core themes within AQA A-level sociology, while research methods is a compulsory element. It follows that the exam board could legitimately ask a question about the problems of researching globalisation. This post is just a few thoughts on…
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Doing Social Research – From Research Design to Data Collection, Analysis and Publication
There are several stages of the research process in social research, and the actual data-collection phase is often only a small part of this process. Preparation for data collection and analysis of data post-data collection often take up considerably more time than the actual gathering of data itself. The process of data collection will of…
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Social Surveys – Advantages and Disadvantages
Social Surveys are a quantitative, positivist research method consisting of structured questionnaires and interviews. This post considers the theoretical, practical and ethical advantages and disadvantages of using social surveys in social research. The Theoretical Advantages of Social Surveys Detachment, Objectivity and Validity Positivists favour questionnaires because they are a detached and objective (unbiased) method, where…
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Social Surveys – An Introduction to Structured Questionnaires and Structured Interviews
A Social Survey involves obtaining information in a standardised from large groups of people. The main survey methods are questionnaires and structured interviews. Surveys are carried out by a wide range of organisations such as government departments, schools and colleges, businesses, charities, and market research and consumer groups. You may well have been stopped in…
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Content Analysis of The Mass Media in Social Research
This post looks at the advantages and disadvantages of using formal (quantitative) content analysis and qualitative textual and thematic analysis of media sources. (NB For some reason, all of the AQA approved text books only seem to expect you to know about content analysis applied to film/ TV and Print Media, rather than applying this…
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Official Statistics in Sociology
The theoretical, practical and ethical strengths and limitations of official statistics in sociology.
