Q1 - What is the total population of the United Kingdom Q1 - What is the total population of the United Kingdom? Q2 - Why do people kill themselves? How would we try to answer these two questions? Is one easier than the other? Why? What problems would you have for each?

Research methods & Data The BIG Idea Research methods & Data We are Learning to... Discover the main types of research methods sociologists use to obtain data. Identify different types of data used by sociologists. In today’s lesson... GOOD learning … Identify two different types of data used by social researchers, and give at an example of a research method that would produce each type. GREAT learning … Identify two different types of data used by social researchers, and give at an example of a research method that would produce each type, with a brief explanation of an advantage of using that research method. EVEN BETTER … Identify two different types of data used by social researchers, and give at an example of a research method that would produce each type, with a detailed explanation of an advantage and a disadvantage of using that research method. 2

Primary Sources Information collected by sociologists themselves for their own purposes. Social Surveys: these involve asking people questions in a written questionnaire or an interview. Participant Observation: the sociologist joins in with the activities of the group she is studying. Experiments: sociologists rarely use laboratory experiments, but they sometimes use field experiments and the comparative method. MWB for examples

Secondary Sources Information that has been collected or created by someone else for their own purposes, which is then used by sociologists. Including: Official Statistics: Produced by the government on a wide range of issues, such as crime, health, education and unemployment. Documents: Letters, diaries, photographs, official reports, novels, newspapers, etc. MWB for examples

Quantitative Data means data that is represented in n_ _ _ _ _ _ _l form or something that can be m_ _ _ _ _ _d. For example, s_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s on qualifications and unemployment. 5

Quantitative Data means data that is represented in numerical form or something that can be measured. For example, statistics on qualifications and unemployment. MWB for examples 6

Qualitative data means d__________s of people’s f______s about a particular subject or event. For example, how they f__l about their future prospects in the job market. 7

Qualitative data means descriptions of people’s feelings about a particular subject or event. For example, how they feel about their future prospects in the job market. This type of data is usually presented in the form of words. MWB for examples 8

Complete Pages 2-3 of Booklet

QUANTITATIVE DATA QUALITATIVE DATA PRIMARY SOURCES SECONDARY SOURCES

QUANTITATIVE DATA QUALITATIVE DATA PRIMARY SOURCES Questionnaires Structured Interviews Participant Observation Non-Participant Observation Unstructured Interviews SECONDARY SOURCES Opinion Polls Official Statistics Newspaper articles Photographs Diaries Historical Documents

Key issues and concepts in social research: Validity Validity: Data can said to be valid if it provides an accurate picture of social reality or the issues being studied. I’ve not had any! How many girlfriends have you had in the past five years? Erm 4…

Key issues and concepts in social research: Reliability Reliability: If you used the same method as previous researcher, and get similar results, then the method is reliable. E.g. different researchers can use the same questionnaire on similar groups within the population. If the questionnaire is reliable, then the results should be similar. If you repeat a research method and get similar results, then the method is reliable.

Key issues and concepts in social research: Representative Representative: Does the sample being used in the study represent the target population being studied? Can this research be applied to everyone?

Complete Pages 4-5

Key issues and concepts in social research: Ethics Ethics is concerned with what is morally right or wrong. Participants should not be harmed or deceived during research.

Key issues and concepts in social research: The Hawthorn effect The presence of the researcher could change the behaviour of the group they are studying. Therefore, the researcher’s findings may not reflect the social reality of that group.

Good Overview Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtz-jvv2oeA

Research methods & Data The BIG Idea Research methods & Data We are Learning to... Discover the main types of research methods sociologists use to obtain data. Identify different types of data used by sociologists. In today’s lesson... GOOD learning … Identify two different types of data used by social researchers, and give at an example of a research method that would produce each type. GREAT learning … Identify two different types of data used by social researchers, and give at an example of a research method that would produce each type, with a brief explanation of an advantage of using that research method. EVEN BETTER … Identify two different types of data used by social researchers, and give at an example of a research method that would produce each type, with a detailed explanation of an advantage and a disadvantage of using that research method. 20

How are young people affected by unemployment at the moment?

Is unemployment worse now than it was in the 1980s for black people?

Is the British National Party a racist organisation?

Are black people discriminated against in the jobs market?

Are there more people with degrees in Leeds a faster than Bradford?