Презентация на тему research

collecting and analysing information (data) in order to increase

our understanding of the phenomenon with which we are concerned or interested.
Research involves three main stages:
planning
data collection
analysis.

a clear articulation of a goal.
Follows a specific plan

of procedure.
Usually divides the principal problems into more manageable sub-problems (hypotheses), which guide the research.
Accepts certain critical assumptions.
Requires collection and interpretation of data to answer original research question.

scientific methods, theories and concepts, which can enhance our

understanding of the social processes and problems encountered by individuals and groups in society.
It is conducted by sociologists, psychologists, economists, political scientists and anthropologists.
It is not just common sense, based on facts without theory, using personal life experience or perpetuating media myths.

systematic collection of methods to produce knowledge.
It is objective.
It

can tell you things you do not expect.
It consists of theory and observation.
Sometimes called ‘soft sciences’ because their subject matter (humans) are fluid and hard to measure precisely.
It is an empirical research – i.e. facts are assumed to exist prior to the theories that explain them.

is to develop a body of general knowledge for

the understanding of human social behaviour by means of a combination of empirical enquiry and application of theory.
Applied or Policy Oriented Research:
aim is to provide knowledge and information that can be used to influence social policy.

by academics.
Applied Research is conducted by applied social researchers

employed by sponsors.
Success for basic social researchers is when results are published in a peer reviewed journal and have an impact on the scientific community.
Success for applied social researchers is that their results are used by their sponsors in decision making.

of reasoning (deductive/inductive)
Level of social reality that it is

explaining (macro/meso/micro)
Whether it is formal (general) or substantive (specific).

in causes and predicting likelihood of incidences, seeks to

explain, creates social ‘facts’.
Phenomenology
Interested in social meanings, seeks to interpret, uses direct involvement, creates data on social interactions.
Critical
Interested in understanding social phenomena in their social context, seeks out structural relationships, data is historical, structural and ideological.

are said to exist as a tangible object, external

to the social actor.
Constructionism
Social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors.
Not only produced through social interaction but they are in a constant state of revision.

literature
Planning the research
What methodology will you use?
What data

do you want to use/produce?
How feasible is your research approach?
Ethical considerations.

framework for the collection and analysis of data.
A

choice of research design reflects decisions about the priority being given to a range of dimensions of the research process.
Involves research method.
Research method is simply a technique for collecting data. It can involve a specific instrument such as a self-completion questionnaire or a structured interview etc.

and its software
Techniques of measurement
Statistics
Facility with language

Tools are

not research methods – e.g. library research and statistical research are meaningless terms.
Tools help your research methods.

How familiar are you with these
tools?

Designing Research?
What is the purpose of the research?
What

are your units of analysis?
What are your points of focus?
What is the time dimension?
Designing a research project:
conceptualisation
operationalisation.
Reliability, replication and validity.

many ideas.
Develop tentative theories and conjectures.
Become familiar with the

basic facts, people and concerns involved.
Formulate questions and refine issues for future research.
Used when little is written on an issue.
It is the initial research.
Usually qualitative research.

of a group or describes a process, mechanism or

relationship or presents basic background information or a context.
Used very often in applied research.
E.g.: General Household survey – describes demographic characteristics, economic factors and social trends.
Can be used to monitor changes in family structure and household composition.
Can also be used to gain an insight into the changing social and economic circumstances of population groups.
Often survey research.

beyond simple description to model empirically the social phenomena

under investigation.
It involves theory testing or elaboration of a theory.
Used mostly in basic research.

on collecting data to ascertain the effects of some

form of planned change.
Used in applied research to evaluate a policy initiative or social programme to determine if it is working.
Can be small or large scale, e.g.: effectiveness of a crime prevention programme in a local housing estate.

artifacts
(ie. products of social beings, for example, books,

poems, paintings, automobiles, buildings, songs, pottery, jokes and scientific discoveries).
behaviours
(eg: social interactions, such as friendship choices, court cases, traffic accidents.

Weddings (as a unit of analysis) –
might be characterised as being religious or secular or ethnically or religiously mixed resulting in divorce or not or they could characterised by descriptions of one or both of the marriage partners.

traits)
Organizations
(would be in terms of policy, procedures etc

Social interactions, actions.

longitudinal
Conceptualisation – i.e. you must specify the meanings of

the concepts and variables to be studied.
Operationalisation – how will we actually measure the variables under study?
Reliability – are the results repeatable? – relevant to quantitative social research.
Replication - can others replicate the results?
Validity – will examine later but are the results a true reflection of the world? Internal (are they measuring the underlying pheonomen)/external (generalise to the population)

the study.

Collect the data.

Analyse the data.

Interpret the data.

Present the

results.

any sub-problems?
What is the background (literature review) on this

problem?
What is good about tackling this problem? Why should we be interested in answering the research question?
Discuss your problem with peers and experts.
Have you looked at this problem from all sides to minimize unwanted surprises?
Think through the process. Are you capable of addressing the issue? Can you foresee any pitfalls in data collection and analysis? What tools are available for you to use?
What research procedure will you follow?

analysis.
Ethical issues.
Resources.
Dissemination?

to think about
what approach you will use to the
problem.

Will it be quantitative or qualitative?

Homework
A PCT in inner-city London has realised that the uptake of flu vaccinations amongst the elderly is low. How would they discover the reasons for this?

question
Remember to stress why the problem is important!
Background/information
Aims and

objectives of the study
Methods
Timetable
Data analysis
Ethical issues
In Funding applications, add
Resources/Budget
Dissemination

to write as it is less structured and pre-planed.

Demonstrate ability to complete a proposed qualitative project – use an extensive discussion of the literature and the significance of the problem and sources. (This shows reviewers that you are familiar with qualitative research and the appropriateness of the method for studying the problem).
Also describe a qualitative pilot study you have conducted. (This demonstrates your motivation, familiarity with research techniques and ability to complete a report about unstructured research).

data.
What is permissible to ask?
No harm to researchers

or subjects.
No deceit or lying in the course of research.
Consequences of publication.
www.the-sra.org.uk
www.britsoc.org.uk/about/
ethics.htm