1. SSP4000 Introduction to the Research Process Wk20: Developing The Intellectual Puzzle (from question to design) Dr. Harry Bowles

2. The Sociological Imagination
Gender, The Media, and the Coverage and Representation of Women in Dance and Sport
In describing the essence of social inquiry, Mills (1958) makes an important distinction:
‘Personal troubles’ – matters connected to self and local context
‘Public issues’ – matters that transcend the ‘inner life’ of the individual
Identity
Gender ideology
Gender norms
Conformity
Marginalisation
Socialisation
Cultural practice
The question is not only ‘what we know’, but also ‘how do we know it’?
Weber & Carini (2012)
Yu (2009)
Kane et al. (2013)
Our knowledge can be limited for a number of reasons including:
- the question asked
- the method(s) used
- the research context
- the aspect of ‘time’
Where do research problems come from
A precise sentence that expresses the specific focus of inquiry
A broad statement that encapsulates the topic of investigation
An ordered set of ‘goals’ that are to be reached in fulfilment of the research

3. Coverage and Representation of Women in the Media
Strands of Inquiry
Coverage and Representation of Women in the Media
The Media
Coverage
Representation
Develop some research questions
Theoretical
Qualitative
Quantitative
Type, Volume & Frequency
Nature & Meaning

4. Developing RQs The role of the research question is to:
Reduce the research problem into something ‘researchable’
Signpost the specific focus of inquiry
Provide purpose and act as a guide throughout the remaining steps of the research process
Develop some research questions

5. Quant. vs. Qual. RQs Quantitative: Qualitative:
Aim to compare, relate or describe patterns and trends between variables or populations
May be accompanied by a hypothesis
Qualitative:
Enable open-ended investigation of the central phenomenon of study
Develop some research questions

6. In Preparation for Next Week
In your working groups you need to…
Reflect on the research findings discussed in today’s lead lecture (student PPt. slides available on Moodle)
Identify the following:
One quantitative question and rationale
One qualitative question and rationale
Working together, students to amalgamate ideas in order to develop and propose one qual. and one quant. question with rationale
Dance – sport
Sport – dance

7. Week 20 RQs
Working together, students to amalgamate ideas in order to develop and propose one qual. and one quant. question with rationale
Dance – sport
Sport – dance

8. Research Design
Once the RQ has been established, researchers must plan a detailed course of action that takes into consideration (?):
Research approach – empirical (qual./quat.)
Sample – size, demographic and method of recruiting
Method(s) and procedure of data collection
Method(s) of analysis and interpretation
The reliability/ validity and trustworthiness of the process
Research ethics – the benefits and risks of the research
Working together, students to amalgamate ideas in order to develop and propose one qual. and one quant. question with rationale
Dance – sport
Sport – dance

9. Research Design: Example
The research proposes to explore the issue of under age drinking in sports clubs. Specifically, the research aims to identify:
How much and how often youngsters under the age of eighteen drink in the context of playing sports.
The key cultural, social and personal mechanisms that contribute to underage drinking – (the alcohol ethos or culture)
Which method would use and why?

10. Example: Alcohol Research UK
In order to meet the study’s specific aims, the research will employ:
A survey method to gather data from a large sample of young athletes. The researchers will target a large sample (1000+) of young people (16-21) who participate in team sports.
The survey will ask questions about drinking habits, consumption patterns and young people’s views and beliefs relating to their own drinking, their friends and peers (social norms).
Which method would use and why?

11. Example: Alcohol Research UK
In order to meet the study’s specific aims, the research will employ:
2. A non-participatory observation method of a single case (one sports club). The choice of club will involve a number of considerations. The club will have to have lots of players, have a clubhouse that sells alcohol, have junior and senior teams, and ideally have men’s and women’s teams
Observation will involve the researcher immersing him/herself into ‘club life’ over an extended period of time (e.g. the course of an entire season) in order to develop a series of detailed insights into the ritualised use of alcohol within a localised context of consumption.
Which method would use and why?

12. Your Essay: Why Bother?

13. Term 2: Summative Assessment
Title:
Using a problem/topic of your choice, describe and apply the key components of the research process
Submission Date:
[submitted via the Turnitin on Moodle]
Word count:
2,000 words (+/- 10%) + Plenary Tasks (4/8/11)

14. Term 2: Summative Assessment
Marking criteria
Understanding of the research process;
The use of literature in justifying the research problem
The quality, specificity and plausibility of the research question;
The appropriateness and detail of the proposed research methodology, design and selected method(s);
Knowledge of the concepts of reliability and validity and their application to research methodology;
Knowledge of the value and purpose of research ethics and issues associated with the chosen research approach;
The accuracy of the content, language and terminology used;
The quality and coherence of the written narrative (including presentation, grammar, syntax and spelling)