Do now! Complete the keywords test on the sheet. Remember that you are not writing 4 mark answers – just concise definitions (like in the book). You need 9/15 to pass (C) 15 minutes End

Research continued – planning your project Date: Date: Tuesday, 22 December 2015 Lesson Outcomes: Recall the stages of a sociological research project Recall the stages of a sociological research project Describe the difference between open, closed & graded response questions (& analyse the importance) Describe the difference between open, closed & graded response questions (& analyse the importance) Create a questionnaire including open, closed & graded response questions Create a questionnaire including open, closed & graded response questions Evaluate the advantages & disadvantages of postal questionnaires Evaluate the advantages & disadvantages of postal questionnaires Project You are going to carry out a sociological research project over October half term. We have two weeks to prepare and plan! Starter: What are the 6 stages of a sociological research project?

Aims/Hypothesis Pilot studies Selecting samples Collecting data Analysing data Evaluating the project

Step 1: Your aim/hypothesis 1)You have 1 minute to think of a possible research project & write it on a post it. 2)You have 2 minutes to discuss with your partner & decide which of your ideas is better. 3)Your pair must find another pair and discuss your ideas. You have 4 minutes to decide which of your ideas is the best. 1 minute 2 minutes4 minutes

1) Step 1: Your aim/hypothesis You must now turn your project title into a question or theory that you will try to prove/disprove e.g. “Older people need less sleep than younger people.” Or “Do older people need less sleep than younger people?”

Step 2: Planning the pilot study Designing a questionnaire What is a questionnaire? A list of pre-set questions to which the respondent supplies the answers. What are the three types of questionnaires? Postal, Hand-delivered and Formal or structured interviews What is a closed question? Respondents choose between a number of given answers, often by just ticking a box. What is an open question? Respondents can put forward their own answers to the set questions, rather than choose a response from several pre-set answers What is a graded response question? Respondents are asked how much they agree with questions and can record their responses on a scale e.g. 1-6

Step 2: Planning the pilot study Designing a questionnaire Task Draft a questionnaire for your sociological research project. You must have a mix of open, closed & graded response questions.

Step 2: Carrying out the pilot study It is important to test your questionnaire on a small group of people to check that your questions are: clear mean the same to everyone give you the kind of responses you were expecting

Evaluating Questionnaires AdvantagesDisadvatages

Evaluating Questionnaires AdvantagesDisadvanatges Cheap, quick & efficient way of obtaining large amounts of information from large numbers of people Difficult & time consuming to design Respondents may be more willing to answer personal questions as the interviewer is not present Respondents may misunderstood the questions being asked – cannot answer the interviewer. Closed questions provide quantitative data. This data can be compared easily. Respondent may not fully complete the question. If respondents answer the questions differently then it shows real differences of opinion. You can’t be sure the correct person has completed it. Can be replicated easily.Unsuitable for some populations such as homeless. Do not allow respondents to develop their answers if closed questions. Response rate is usually low.

Planning your project continued - Interviews Date: Date: Tuesday, 22 December 2015 Lesson Outcomes: Describe what is meant by longitudinal & cross- sectional studies & be able to explain when each would be appropriateDescribe what is meant by longitudinal & cross- sectional studies & be able to explain when each would be appropriate Describe the difference between structured, unstructured and semi- structured interviewsDescribe the difference between structured, unstructured and semi- structured interviews Starter: Why is triangulation of data important?

Step 2: Planning the pilot study Social surveys aim to collect information from a large number of people through questionnaires and structured interviews. There are two main types of social surveys: - Longitudinal surveys Cross sectional surveys A longitudinal study aims to gather information from the same group over time, at regular intervals or stages. Examples included:- The 7Up programme, which first aired on ITV in 1964, followed a group of children every seven years. A cross-sectional survey is done only once. It takes a cross section of the population and asks them about a particular issue only once. Example: The National Foundation for Educational Research carried out a survey into teachers perceptions of the new diploma.

Types of interview Structured/formal: Similar to a questionnaire where the questions are asked by the interviewer Unstructured/informal: the interviewer has a topic but does not pre-set the questions and is guided by the answers given Semi-structured: the interviewer has some pre-set questions but allows flexibility to ask additional questions depending on the answers given.

Step 2: Planning the pilot study 1)You have 2 minutes to write down questions that you would like to ask for your interview. 2)With your partner, you have 2 minutes each to carry out a formal (structured)) interview (role playing the character). 3)Now you have 2 minutes each to carry out a semi-structured interview. 2 minutes

Finalising the pilot study Date: Date: Tuesday, 22 December 2015 Lesson Outcomes: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using structured, semi- structured & unstructured interviews. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using structured, semi- structured & unstructured interviews. Conclude which methods would be most appropriate for own sociological research Conclude which methods would be most appropriate for own sociological research Starter: Explain what sociologists mean by “interviews”. (4 marks)

Homework: Carry out one structured interview and one unstructured interview (two different people) on any topic of your choice (not your research topic). You must take notes of your interview. Write a paragraph comparing the responses from the two different types of interviews. TIF: Were there any other factors affecting your responses e.g. age, sex, location?

Structured or formal interviews AdvantagesDisadvantages

Structured or formal interviews AdvantagesDisadvantages Can see differences between answers easily Interviewer bias - Respondent may lie to impress or shock the interviewer Provides statistical data which can be compared easily Interviewer bias - Respondent may not tell the truth as the information is too personal Can be repeated easily to check reliability Interviewer bias – interviewer may influence the answers Interviewer can clarify meaning of questions Age, gender, bias, ethnicity, etc of interviewer may influence the respondent’s response

Unstructured interviews AdvantagesDisadvantages

Unstructured interviews AdvantagesDisadvantages More flexibleTime consuming Can clarify misunderstandingsExpensive Answers can be developed fullyNeed a skilled interviewer Provide more in depth informationInterviewer bias Interviewer can ask leading questions Difficult to repeat Can do fewer interviewers therefore sample is smaller – difficult to say findings apply to general population

By the end of this lesson you must have in your book: 1)Your finalised questionnaire including open, closed & graded response questions. 2)A paragraph explaining whether your interviews will be structured, unstructured or semi-structured and why. (and a list of questions if necessary)