THE RESEARCH PROCESS How do Sociologists study society? STUDYING SOCIETY TOPIC Glue the Learning Journey into your book

Starter  Work in pairs.  Look at the IWB and decide what you think is the order in which Sociologists would carry out their research.  Then we’ll arrange it in the correct order together on the board.

Stages of Sociological research Decide on the aims and hypothesis Carry out the pilot study – practice run of the research Select the sample – people who will take part in the research Conduct the research – interview, questionnaire, etc Analyse the data Evaluate the research project

Objective  To be able to identify and describe the main stages of carrying out a social survey.

Home learning  Revise Sociology for at least one hour every day by reading through your the notes in your exercise books.

Task 1  Cut out the cards.  Read each one.  Match the stage of Sociological research with its description.  Glue it into your book in the correct order.

Solution Decide on the aims and hypothesis Carrying out a pilot study Select the sample Conduct the survey Analyse the data Evaluate the research project This is a small scale, trial run of the research method carried out before the main survey. The point is to check for any possible mistakes or improve the questions so the respondents can understand them. This stage involves actually carrying out the research method, e.g. a questionnaire or an interview. Through this, the researcher can collect either qualitative or quantitative primary data, but they can also use secondary data. The sample are the people the researcher will ask to take part in the study. It can be selected through a variety of sampling methods, usually from a sampling frame. The sample should be representative of the whole population. This stage involves analysing the responses and quantifying them. From the analysed data, the researcher reaches a conclusion on whether the hypothesis was proven true or false. An aim is a statement that says what the researcher plans to study and hopes to achieve. A hypothesis is a possible explanation, expressed as a statement, which the researcher sets out to prove or disprove by gathering evidence. This stage involves the study being assessed by experienced Sociologists at, for example, the British Sociological Association. The researcher is then given the permission to publish their findings in journals.

Task 2  Work on your own to answer these exam questions: 1. What is a pilot study? (2 marks) 2. Identify and explain one reason why Sociologists use pilot studies. (4 marks)

Key concepts in Sociology – society, culture, subculture, norms and values, socialisation, social role and status Types of data – primary, secondary, qualitative and quantitative data and reliability, validity and objectivity Longitudinal studies The research process – aims, hypothesis and pilot study, data analysis and evaluation Ethical issues How can Sociology influence social policy? Sampling methods Revision and End of unit assessment – mock exam Questionnaires InterviewsObservations How is Sociology different to Biology, Psychology and journalism? Secondary sources of data

Review  Write down 3 of your own revision techniques and be prepared to share them with the class.